Masses held for passage of Freedom of Info bill

Catholic churches on Sunday held masses nationwide for the swift passage of the Freedom of Information bill in Congress. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo appealed anew to the patriotism of lawmakers and urged them to show their commitment to the 1987 Constitution by ratifying the bill, which will pave the way for the full disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest. “We keep faith that you will not fail us today and leave a legacy of ushering Philippine politics and institutions towards the path of truth, accountability and moral governance," Pabillo said in an article addressed to House Speaker Prospero Nograles. The article was posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site.
Pabillo, who chairs the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, presided over a 4 p.m. mass at the St. Peter Church in Quezon City Sunday. The CBCP said bishops in other parishes were scheduled to preside over similar masses. In Cagayan de Oro, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma was to preside over a 4 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Augustine. Ledesma said he believes in “the power of the good that against odds, it always prevails." “We urge them, appeal to their sense of what is good and right – to ratify the FOI bill on Monday, May 31 as it would not take them longer than five minutes to do this," he added. In Cebu City, Augustinian missionary Fr. Tito Soquino was also scheduled to celebrate the 4 p.m. Mass at the Basilica Minore of Sto. Nino de Cebu. Nograles last week said the House would first have to complete canvassing votes for president and vice president first before entertaining any moves in connection with any legislation, including the Freedom of Information. - KBK, GMANews.TV