Militant Group Leader Blames LP, Sen Hontiveros for Poor Attendance of ‘Heal Our Land’ EDSA Rally

More than 2,000 people attended the mass at the EDSA People Power Shrine on Sunday, November 5 at around 3 pm. After the mass, around 5,500 people gathered at the People Power monument for a cultural program. Nevertheless, a militant group leader blamed the Liberal Party (LP) and Senator Riza Hontiveros for the poor attendance of the event.



As expected, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas held the mass at the People Power Shrine. In his homily, Villegas called for the stop the violence and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) particularly in relation to the drug war of the Duterte administration, stay away from drugs, and return to God.

“Ang pakiusap na itigil na ang patayan ay panaghoy ng mahigit sampung libong kababayan nating nabaril dahil nanlaban daw o kaya ay binaril ng 'di makilala… Ano ang panawagan? Ano ang dapat gawin? Magbalik loob upang maghilom. Repent so healing can begin. Stopping the killing is only one big step.” Villegas said, without mentioning any names.

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“Paghihilom sa inyo mga ulila sa EJK na nasa gilid gilid ng lipunan. Kung totoong drug users kayo, tama na at magbago. May pag-asa pa! Magbagong buhay na tayo, kasama ako. Bumalik tayo sa Panginoon. Naghihintay ang Diyos. Ang simbahan ay handang umalalay sa inyo. Ang simbahan ay handang umalalay sa inyo.” He added.

According to Tindig Pilipinas, the gathering is just prayers for healing, and no politics involved. However, it can easily be noticed that politicians who attended the event belong to the Opposition. This includes Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV, Bam Aquino, and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano.

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Also spotted in the event are former VP Jejomar Binay, former Malacañang spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, singer Lea Navarro, as well as Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Viel Aquino-Dee, sisters of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. And although no militant groups have joined the rally, Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes reacted about the result.



“Ang totoo, dapat sasama kami ng Kadamay dyan sa rally na yan. Kaya nga nabanggit ni Sen. Hontiveros na possible daw umabot sa 30,000 ang sasali. Kaso maliit lang daw ang budget. Paano naman kami, na karamihan ay manggaling pa sa malalayo? Tapos, sagot pa namin ang pasahe ng mga myembro namin.” Reyes said in an ambush interview.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida