Blog site “ABIAS-CBN NEWS” is at it again with the release of an article claiming CBCP President Soc Villegas stated, “Much better mag-resign na lang si Pres. Duterte or else kami ang mag-rarally laban sa kanya.”
According to the article, Villegas, in his homily on December 4, encouraged the President to withdraw from his position and file his resignation. If Duterte does not do so, then, they will organize a “massive rally much bigger than EDSA People Power.”
Villegas’ homily allegedly went like this:
“DEAR MR. PRESIDENT
What the World desperately needs now is leadership by example. We have so many leaders in the office and many more aspiring to sit in office but are they examples of good citizenship? If the leaders we choose are to be leaders for national progress they must be visionaries and exemplary.
Corruption is indeed a great scourge of Philippine politics.
The usual face of corruption that we recognize easily is stealing from public funds. Corruption, like a monster, is a devil with many faces. Killing people is corruption. Killing is a crime and a sin whether it is done by criminals or public officials no matter what the intention. Adultery is corruption. It makes married love cheap and uses people for pleasure. Adultery corrupts the family. It destroys children and victimizes the weak. Vulgarity is corruption. When we find vulgarity funny, we have really become beastly and barbaric as a people. When a revered and loved and admired man like Pope Francis is cursed by politicians and the audience laugh, I can only bow my head and grieve in great shame. My countrymen has gone to the dregs.
Is this the leadership by example that Pres. Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a President deserving of the title “Honorable”?”
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This time, however, the article contains a disclaimer which says: “Contributed articles does not reflect the views of this website. This website cannot guarantee the legitimacy of some of the information contributed to us. You may do additional research if you find some information doubtful.”
But is it not the duty of the website to provide legitimate information to its audience?
Most particularly in today’s world where people are too gullible in believing whatever they read on the web or too lazy to validate their sources, such as the case of a Hans Delos Reyes who shared this baseless article to the “DDS/DIEHARD DUTERTE SUPPORTERS” group.
When we tried to verify if Archbishop Villegas really did say those words above in his homily on December 4, 2016, as the article claimed, we found out that it was actually a Facebook post he made last December 1, 2015.
If you also read the entire article, there was no single line where Villegas said the lines that were passed off as the article’s title. He did not ask Duterte to resign or threaten the then-Davao City mayor with a People Power revolution.
Villegas’ Facebook post came after Duterte narrated how he cursed Pope Francis because of the traffic brought about by the Papal visit last January 2015.
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Moreover, despite Duterte’s tirade against the Church before his assumption as president, Villegas reassured that the Church will give their support to Duterte while also keeping a watchful eye.
In fact, a statement entitled “Understanding Silence” by Villegas stated, “There is virtue in silence. There is virtue in speech. Wisdom is knowing when it is time for silence and when is the timing for speech.”
This is not the first time Archbishop Villegas’ name figured in fake articles. Meme Buster even busted an unfounded claim about him asking Duterte to resign, when he certainly did not do that.
Sources: (gmanetwork.com, rappler.com, facebook.com)
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