Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete on Monday, Oct. 10, enjoined the faithful to pray amid an increasing political rivalry in Negros Oriental.
The bishop, who is currently in Rome, released a special prayer Oct. 10 for the “peaceful resolution” of the ongoing tension as to who officially should occupy the gubernatorial post.
“The people are confused and apprehensive,” Cortes said in a report from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. “As concerned citizens, let us pray that this tension between the Hon. Roel Degamo and the Hon. Pryde Henry Teves and their respective supporters be resolved peacefully,” he said.
In the prayer, the bishop asked God to “intervene” so that the “rule of law” will be “respected and not fall on deaf ears”.
“We cannot help but turn to you, Lord, for we have two contending officials, who are both honorable, ready, capable, and able to serve our province,” part of the prayer reads.
The prayer also includes an appeal that the “contending leaders” would “choose humility and righteousness” so that they could truly serve the people.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government already ordered Teves to vacate the post after the Commission on Elections invalidated his win as governor in the May 9 polls.
The poll body proclaimed Degamo the duly-elected governor after votes gained by Grego Gaudia were credited to him.
The Comelec declared Gaudia a nuisance candidate for using the name Ruel Degamo in the ballots, causing confusion among voters, the report said.
But Teves questioned the jurisdiction of Comelec in annulling his proclamation as governor, saying he was not a party to the case filed before the poll body by Degamo.
The unseated governor filed a Temporary Restraining Order before the Supreme Court, and contested the nullification of his proclamation.
Teves said he would abide by the SC decision, which is expected to be released on Oct. 11. ||
