Cardinal Rosales clarifies stand on people power

After receiving flak on the matter, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales blinked and clarified he is not against the use of people power if the elections are thwarted. At the same time, Rosales said he did not mean to hurt anyone when he branded calls for people power at this time as "crazy," and that he should have reflected on the matter. "He was not against People Power, by itself, against dictators and injustices, for which he prayed much during the first EDSA 1986. The interview words he used should have been well reflected on, words he (lately and now) admittedly did not mean (much less to hurt the sensibilities of others)," a statement from Rosales’ office said. The statement was posted on the website of the Manila Archdiocese website Wednesday night. Flak Rosales gained flak for an interview last Sunday where he said there is no need for people power at this time. [See: Cardinal Rosales rejects people power if elections fail] "Why infuse that into the present situation when this is different? Remember, at that time, there was a dictator," Rosales said at the time, referring to the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was ousted from Malacañang in the historic People Power Revolt. "Come on, let's use our head. These are two different things. That's just crazy, crazy, crazy," he added. While he did not specify any presidential candidate, Rosales said anyone who introduced the idea of another mass uprising was thinking irresponsibly. Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was earlier quoted in news reports as saying that a revolt is possible if there is massive cheating in the May 10 elections. Reacting to Rosales' statement on Sunday, Aquino said: "Tayo’y may responsibilidad sa ating kapwa. Tayo’y nakasandal sa taong bayan (We have a responsibility to our fellowman. We are leaning on the people)." Rosales' earlier statement also did not suit well even for activist priest Robert Reyes. "Mabuti pa, huwag na kami magsalita (It’s better if we don’t talk). People power is the power of the people — not the power of the church, not the power of politicians — but the power of the common tao," Reyes said in a television interview Monday. Right to free elections But Rosales’ office said that when the Manila archbishop issued those remarks, he had in mind the present situation does not yet warrant any plan for mass movement of people. "He believes that the people are to participate in a free election, for this is their right; to freely choose their leaders. But should there be, in the actual process of voting, proven massive cheating, the use of violence and massive election fraud, then this is the time to respond to whatever the people’s mass movement could justly claim; and this would be supported. That was the tradition turned to us by our predecessors, and that was what was enshrined in the constitution," the statement from his office said. On the other hand, Rosales’ office said there is now a growing distrust of government commissions, departments and tribunals, which does not augur well for good governance and the good of the people. "Let us help to recover that lost respect and trust, by keeping close watch of these Commissions or Departments and publicly identify the wrongdoers," it said. It added that since the whole nation is primed for and preparing for the electoral practice of choosing leaders, Rosales is in favor of not hurriedly circumventing the election process, before a renowned mass movement remedy is assumed. — RSJ, GMANews.TV