Malacañang on Wednesday denied the Catholic Church’s allegation it was spreading “fake news” when it challenged Palace spokesman Harry Roque to reveal the names of the Church officials allegedly conniving with the rebels to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.
Roque stood firm on his claim there was a possibility that some Catholic Church leaders might be conniving with the communist rebels.
The communist rebels have been known for penetrating institutions, and the people should have learned from their history, Roque told dzRH radio in response to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo who dared him to name names.
Pabillo, a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media, said Roque should identify the Church officials he thought were linked to the CPP-NPA.
“That’s not fake news. It's part of history. The CPP-NPA is the world’s longest insurgency,” Roque said.
“Let’s not pretend to be blind and act as if we do not know the CPP-NPA. It can infiltrate different institutions and there is a need for us to guard our lines. I’ll stand by my statement.”
But the CBCP likewise stood firm that the Catholic Church was not behind any moves to oust Duterte.
Pabillo said the Duterte administration’s frequent destabilization claims were a sign of insecurity.
“That only shows how insecure they are,” Pabillo said.
“They are so blinded by their fears and their bias that they cannot see their mistakes. They deflect on others their inefficiencies.” With Nat Mariano
