MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, who is also a staunch critic of President Benigno Aquino III on Friday lauded the Chief Executive for apologizing for the government's slow response to supertyphoon Yolanda.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action - Justice and Peace, said President Aquino set a good example among civil servants in admitting that government was slow in addressing the needs of the families affected by the typhoon.
However, the bishop said that along with the apology, President Aquino should act to facilitate the delivery of relief assistance to the survivors of the devastation.
"Maganda yun, kung may pagkukulang dapat aminin…kung may aaminin may pagbabagong mangyayari sana it would give a good example sa ibang lider natin na hindi sa dahil sila ay mga lider eh tama lahat ang kanilang ginagawa nila. Dapat aminin ang pagkukulang," Pabillo said in an interview over Radyo Verita.
"Pagtapos ng pag-amin ay may pagbabago dapat. Hindi dapat matapos sa pag-amin dapat may aksyon na makita dito, gaya ng pangungumpisal, aaminin natin ang ating mga kasalaanan pero bahagi din ng pangungumpisal ang tinatawag na resolusyon o amendments na babaguhin at hindi na uulitin at ayusin na ang buhay natin," Pabillo added.
The President's apology came following the statement of Czar Agustine Yu, a former student of Sacred Heart High School in Tacloban City, noting that they have yet to get aid from the government.
Yu, now studying at Hope Christian High School in Manila, which was visited by President Aquino last Thursday.