Security tightened at Cotabato bishop’s installation

MANILA, Philippines — With the recent bombings in Jolo, tight security was implemented during the installation of Archbishop Angelito Lampon as the new head of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. 

CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said a number of soldiers and policemen were deployed around the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City during the ceremony.

Among those in attendance were 25 bishops belonging to different dioceses, including Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia and CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles.

Lampon replaced the 79-year-old Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, who served the archdiocese for two decades before he retired on Nov. 6 last year. 

Quevedo, the first cardinal of Mindanao and a survivor of one of the world’s longest-running Muslim insurgencies, said in his homily one must be “spirit-filled and spirit-driven” to be an effective bishop. 

“No more, no less,” Quevedo said. “Only when he is in communion with the Holy Spirit, only when the Spirit dwells in him, will he be a prophet with courage, without fear, in season and out of season.”

In a region marred by tension and insecurity, Quevedo said a shepherd must bring hope to people “who look for light in cultural darkness and mutual biases and prejudices.”

“He must lead his flock and those who are not of his flock to peace and harmony,” the cardinal added.

In his message, the papal nuncio conveyed Pope Francis’ spiritual closeness to and support for Lampon and his new pastoral ministry. 

“You are not alone. We are with you, all of us,” Caccia said. 

At one point in his speech, Caccia also thanked Quevedo for his great service to the Church. 

“He (Quevedo) has been very much appreciated by the Holy Father and the other cardinals all over the world,” he added. 

Lampon was the apostolic vicar of Jolo since 1997 until November 2018 when Pope Francis appointed him as Cotabato archbishop. 

Last Sunday, at least 21 people were killed and about 100 others were injured when two bombs exploded at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu during a mass. 

Both Quevedo, who once served as parish priest of Jolo cathedral, and Lampon deplored the incident as an “action of evil people with utter disregard for the sacredness of human life.” 

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) circulated a letter instructing its priests, chaplains, superiors and rectors to include in all their masses this Sunday the prayer for the victims of the bombings in Sulu. 

“As an expression of our solidarity to the victims of the Jolo Cathedral bombing last Sunday, Jan. 27, to those who are injured and those who died, their families and the community of Jolo, may we ask that this intention be included in the Prayer of the Faithful of our Masses, especially on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019,” RCAM chancellor Fr. Reginald Malicdem said.

No connection

The CBCP earlier warned of a no-election scenario this year, pointing to the draft federalism charter passed by the House of Representatives.

The CBCP warned against moves by some sectors to cancel the elections this May due to the House version of the federal constitution that it described as “vague.”

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo yesterday dismissed the CBCP claim.

“There is no connection with that. I cannot see any connection. The President said there will be elections and it will be clean, honest and credible,” Panelo said.

He said the failure to hold elections is unconstitutional.  – With Christina Mendez