Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the Church hierarchy is not endorsing any candidate, but he called on lay Catholic leaders to speak out and endorse honest candidates.

Pabillo, who heads the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the bishops’ conference, made the call after Mike Velarde of the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai endorsed Senate candidates allied with President Duterte.

Among those he endorsed were Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos; Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, who are facing plunder charges; and Ronald de la Rosa, former national police chief who launched the government’s “war on drugs,” resulting in thousands of killings.

“If (Velarde) can brazenly come out with a list endorsing thieves, murderers and dishonest people, should not our lay leaders and lay groups do at least the same… but of honest people?” said Pabillo.

“The ball is in your court. Should we play ball or just let them take control of the game because they are more enterprising?”

Velarde said he endorsed the Duterte candidates because they could also help the poor.

Most of the victims of Duterte’s war on drugs are from the poor. No suspected drug lord has been charged.

No customs official has been charged over billions-worth of drugs from China entering the country through the Bureau of Customs.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged Filipinos “not to leave God out” when they vote.

Marian seminar

Marian Encounter Seminar on May 26, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at the University of Santo Tomas’s Tan Yan Kee Student Center on España, Manila, is inspired by the Church’s 2019 as Year of the Youth.

Fr. Jonathan Rubin, OP, pastoral director of the UST Central Seminary, is the resource person on “Mary and the Youth.” Other topics are “Mary as Seen in the Eyes of Other Religions” and “Mary and Her Influence in the Contemporary Age.”

Other speakers: Fr. Jesus Malit, SSS, former provincial of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, and Msgr. Claro “Matt” Garcia, parish priest of the St. Alphonsus de Liguori Parish in Magallanes Village, Makati City. Mass celebrant is Fr. Jose Bustillo, parish priest of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Parish, Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The Missionaries of Mary, a lay Marian Community, has been organizing the seminars thrice a year in partnership with Radio Veritas (846 A). It also broadcasts “M.O.M. on Air” every first Saturday, 8-9 p.m., to promote a Marian spirituality that will lead to a closer and more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Seminar fee of P150 includes lunch and snacks (tel. 7412830).

For announcements, e-mail [email protected].