Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
Mon Bandril, who identifies himself on Facebook as a social media consultant for Radio Veritas, posted a picture showing a memo supposedly issued by the Iglesia ni Cristo.
The memo, dated July 12, 2012, was addressed to the then Director of the PNP-DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management) at Camp Crame, PDIR Elpidio De Asis, Jr. and stated, “We humbly request to please consider the reassignment of the following PNP personnel to wit.”
It then listed seven policemen, their names and ranks, as well as their assigned units against the units they were being asked to be reassigned to. It was signed by Minister Erano Codera and ended with, “In behalf of the Executive Minister let me extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your continuous support and cooperation.”
Last weekend, INC members took to the streets calling for a separation of church and state, decrying what they perceived as meddling on the DOJ’s (Department of Justice) part with a case filed against the church’s ministers. The memo posted by Bandril somewhat illustrates that in this case, the INC was not seeking a separation of church and state by making the request.
Article III section 5 of the Bill of Rights states, “No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.”
In a recent Facebook post, Attorney Raymond Fortun explained the separation of church and state as “In the most simple terms po, ‘separation of church and state’ means NO FAVORITISM by the government to favor a particular religion, nor can the government pass any laws to persecute a particular religion.”
There are times when they really request for reassignments, not for return of favor, but for people to be reassigned to a location that’s near to the church. As you know, even police officers, who are INC members, are highly-encouraged to go to church on Thursdays and Sundays. These requests are done not to lift them up to higher position, but for convenience of their members who need to go to church and still respond to the police station right after. There are also times when INC need police officers on certain events or high-profile locations such as PH arena or the Central, and reassignments are done to make sure that most of those who will be on duty on a certain event are INC members as well.
Does that make sense? If yes, then it’s wrong to put malice on the said letter.
Huh? Yeah right..