For letting minors join procession: Mayor eyes raps vs priest

CEBU, Philippines - Santa Fe, Bantayan Mayor Jose Esgana is eyeing the filing charges against the priest of the Santo Niño Parish in the town for reportedly letting minors join a dawn procession last Saturday.

The priest, Roy Bucag, has been opposing a music festival slated during the Holy Week and organized the procession together with over a hundred parishioners as a form of protest.

A banner they carried at that time reads, "People in Bantayan Island do not sing and dance when Christ's death is commemorated on Good Friday until [Black] Saturday... Help us keep that beautiful old tradition. Be culture-sensitive. Holy Week is not fiesta in the island."

But Esgana’s private secretary and legal officer said Bucag may be liable for child abuse.

“There was child abuse for utilizing minors in his rally. The child abuse case is an obligation of the municipality or the government. Consent is immaterial bisag sa bata or ginikanan pa. A rally is not a venue for children,” said Niño Mike Torrevillas, the private secretary and legal officer of the mayor.

Torrevillas said they have already coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) about the matter.

“Of course, (we are serious about it.) Child abuse is a serious matter. If DSWD could help us if we need to file a case in court, we will,” he said.

Aside from allowing minors to participate, the parish also reportedly failed to secure a permit for the procession and created public disturbance by using drums, thereby, violating the municipality’s anti-noise ordinance.

Torrevillas said several residents complained of the noise produced by the drums as it awakened them from sleep.

“The complaints will take part of a letter that we will send to him (Bucag). It will be evidence that indeed the rally was harmful,” Torrevillas said.

He said that while every individual has the right to practice his or her religion, “every right is not absolute (and) if it is, it would lead to anarchy.”

“The right to rally is regulated by law. If you do not comply with the law there are consequences. If they felt the need to rally they should have complied with the law. The state do not gives exemption to any religious sect. People should be responsible with their actions,” he said further.

Not threatened

Bucag, for his part, said the young individuals who joined the rally are members of the Parish Youth Coordinating Council.

“Wala sila pugsa apan nisuporta nako because kabalo sila kon unsa ilang giapilan,” he said.

He also said he did not deem it necessary to get a permit since “it was a prayerful rally, not like other rallies.” In fact, he said, the parish has since been holding processions every first Saturday of the month.

He stressed the procession was a non-violent mass action.

Bucag said he does not have plans of filing counter-charges if, indeed, he will be sued. He will, however, continue to oppose the staging of the music festival.

“Di rako mobawos og kiha kay kon mobawos ko, wala na unya’y kalainan namong duha,” he said.

“I am not afraid because I am on the right track. I’m here to guide my parishioners. Naa siya’y right na ikiha ko tungod anang mga allegations pero wala lagi ko hadlok kay dapig nako’ng Ginoo. Ako ra siya i-ampo,” he added.

The music festival will be held from April 13 (Holy Thursday) to April 15 (Black Saturday).

Bucag has asked Governor Hilario Davide to intervene in the situation but the governor merely suggested moving the event somewhere else, something Bucag did not agree to, as he would want the event moved to another date.

Bucag said earlier that while he acknowledges that the Church does not have the final say on the matter, the festival has the potential to disrupt the solemnity of the observance of the Holy Week.

Petty

Talking to media yesterday, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma believes the situation is "too petty" to end up in court.

"Maayo unta nga dili kita mag-away sa maong mga rason. It's too petty to bring each other to court just for that," he told reporters yesterday (April 2) evening.

He said he will allow Esgana and Bucag to handle the situation for now but will step in once the situation becomes "uncontrollable". He also said that the Archdiocese has Bucag's back.

"I, for one, would side with the priest," he said, adding, that a prayer rally is a right of any individual.

He said the Church stands firm that the festival is best not to be held during the Holy Week.

"Mao ni among question, angay ba kini sa semana santa?" he said.

Beneficial

In a press conference last Saturday, Esgana reiterated that the festival organizers have met the requirements set by the town.

He reasoned that a major event like the music festival attracts tourists and benefit local businesses, thus, usher in development. In fact, he said, the Holy Week is considered the peak season for tourism in Bantayan Island because tourists prefer to visit there because the seas are calm at this time of year and the break is long during the Holy Week.

He pointed out that the religious sector must also respect the beliefs and choices of those who are not Catholics.

Besides, the mayor said, the event will be held in a secluded place. (FREEMAN)