Why Cardinal David rejects Marcos-Duterte resignation call

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Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David fears the prospects of a transition council, a revolutionary government, or a civilian-military junta

MANILA, Philippines – “What’s next?”

This, for Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, is the reason he rejects the call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign in the face of the country’s biggest corruption scandal in years. 

The resignation call is one key difference between the two major protests in Metro Manila on Sunday, November 30, the 162nd anniversary of Filipino hero Andres Bonifacio’s birth. It is also the reason why Metro Manila protesters did not converge at EDSA as they did last September 21, the first Trillion Peso March that drew hundreds of thousands of protesters. 

On Sunday, at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City, protesters sought to hold both Marcos and Duterte, as well as their allies, accountable for systemic injustice. At Luneta in Manila, protesters called for the resignation of both Marcos and Duterte.

“Why are we here at the EDSA People Power Monument on this day?” asked David during his speech at the second Trillion Peso March. “Not Luneta because we do not yet believe in the call of the people who are there right now. Not yet.” 

In a 27-minute speech, the cardinal explained that he fears the prospects of a transition council, a revolutionary government, or a civilian-military junta, even if it included Catholic bishops as members.

His concerns are premised on the belief that the country’s highest officials would never voluntarily relinquish their posts. They would only resign at gunpoint, he said, if the military defected from the government and called for their ouster. 

David said he respects Filipinos who have arrived at the Marcos-Duterte resignation call “because they are so tired of the corrupt system.” He continued: “We are all so tired, right? But our question to our comrades is: If we want ‘resign all’ immediately, what is the alternative? What’s next?”

“We do not want the proposals for a transitional council or revolutionary government, because we do not want the Philippines to become a Banana Republic,” he said.

“We also do not want a civilian and military junta, even if we bishops are promised a position in the government. Because it is clear to us that politics and government are not our expertise — we will never be tempted to become Talibans. Ours is only moral and spiritual leadership, that is why we are here, with you. We are just part of the church that journeys with people,” the cardinal added.

David was among those being wooed to join a civilian-military junta to rule the Philippines in place of the Marcos government, according to Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, convenor of the Trillion Peso March Movement. The cardinal had warned against snap elections or a military junta as early as October 8.

The 66-year-old David, who is the younger brother of sociologist Randy David, said the Philippines’ democratic system is imperfect, but it is better than none. “This is a work in progress,” said the cardinal.

“In short, the reason we went to EDSA is that we don’t want quick solutions. We don’t have to burn down the whole house just because we want to catch and hold accountable the cockroaches and rats of our society. How can we hold accountable those who should be held accountable when we start from scratch again?” said David.

Bayan president Renato Reyes, however, defended their call for Marcos and Duterte to quit. 

“We cannot tell people to what extent they can get angry. What if some are really angry at the President, the Vice President, and the whole system? But no one is saying that today, we can change the government. That’s not our agenda today, but we want to change it,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Gabriela Representative Sarah Elago took an inclusive tone on Sunday, stating that protesting is “not a competition” that makes people choose. “Everyone who fights corruption, who’s with us in changing the system, everyone whose call is not pro-Marcos or pro-Duterte but pro-meaningful change, is with us in this fight,” Elago said.

David himself appealed to a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, as he recalled the violence that erupted in Mendiola, Manila, during the first Trillion Peso March on September 21.

“Why did we go to EDSA and not to Mendiola? Because we do not want violence and chaos. We are disciples of democracy. We are calling for real change, but in a peaceful way. Let’s talk, let’s not fight, we are brothers and sisters,” David said. – Rappler.com