MANILA, Philippines — A staffer of President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday allegedly ordered priests and bishops to leave the Balangiga Town Plaza before his arrival for the turnover of the Balangiga bells, Fr. Edmel Raagas, one of the priest present at the event, said,“Priests, including the Borongan bishop and the Apostolic Nuncio, were initially told to go out of the Balangiga plaza, minutes before the President arrived,” Raagas told INQUIRER.net in a text message. “Later, two priests including myself were instructed by PMS to transfer to the seats at the back ‘kasi alam niyo naman may issues ang presidente sa inyo’,” Raagas said. Earlier, Duterte attended the turnover of the historic church bells in Balangiga, Samar. The Diocese of Borongan said the President even asked priests of Balangiga to remove their collars and chairs were used to shield the view of the priests.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 15, 2018 14:59 UTC