Radioman threatens Guv with suit over mass

CEBU, Philippines - A veteran radioman, who claimed to be the dean of  Cebu media commentators, has threatened to bring Gov. Hilario Davide III to court for having a mass at the Capitol for the 444th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Cebu last Aug. 6.

Mike Aton, deputy anchor of weekend Media Forum aired over radio dyRB and a member of Iglesia ni Kristo, said the governor violated Section 29(2) of the 1987 Constitution.

The section states that “No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid, or employed, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion, or of any priest, preacher, minister, other religious teacher, or dignitary as such, except when such priest, preacher, minister, or dignitary is assigned to the armed forces, or to any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.”

Aton said the mass done by Catholic priests at the Capitol Social Hall “run smack head on (with) the said pertinent law, (and is) a blatant manifestation of violation, if not mockery of the Constitution.”

He said Section 29(2) is the most abused provision of the Constitution being“courageously done”  by the Catholic Church and some government officials identified with the church.

“I will consider you as the hostile witness in those activities, all because you attended that mass,” said Aton, in his letter dated Sept. 23, 2013 addressed to Davide.

While it is already a tradition, Aton argued that having a mass for every important government activity serves as a “license” for any person to just disregard the law.

He said that any act, even if already considered a tradition, that runs counter to existing laws must be stopped.

“Mr. Governor, baluktot na ito (this is already crooked). Wala ba kayong gagawin dito (Won’t you do something)?” Aton said, in obvious reference to the Aquino administration’s “Matuwid na Daan” campaign.

Davide belongs to the president’s Liberal Party.

In his letter, Aton asked the governor to reply as to why he (Aton) should not file a criminal case against him before the Office of  the Ombudsman.

Davide told reporters he would see if the threat merits a response.

He said that the Aton’s group has been attacking him during the campaign period. — (FREEMAN)