A senior official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded religious groups not to defy the government’s quarantine order to contain the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) or risk facing charges as reports surface of some groups continuing their worship services even in the midst of a community lockdown.
DILG Undersecretary for External and Legislative Affairs Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri said religious groups should cooperate with the government, insisting that the quarantine imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 is for the general welfare of the people.
Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio threatened legal action against the Iglesia ni Cristo after reports reached her office that the group continued to call their members to attend regular worship services in defiance of her orders to stop mass gatherings while the city is in lockdown.
She threatened legal action against the group if they continue to hold worship services.
Echiverri said that even the Catholic Church thought of continuing to offer public Masses while maintaining safe distances among the Mass attendees. However, he was against the idea and instead advised everyone to stay at home.
“Actually the spokesperson of the Catholic Church, Fr. Jerome Secillano, asked me if the Church could do social distancing sa mga simbahan. I told him ‘To be on the safe side na lang Father, I think we should not take that risk dahil itong imposition ng gobyerno ay hindi naman kapritso lang eh,” he said.
Echiverri said religious groups that would insist on holding religious services in defiance of the government’s order to self-quarantine must be ready to face the consequences of their actions.
He said that by insisting on conducting business-as-usual, these groups are “are not cooperating with the government”.
“It defeats the purpose of containing it [the virus],” he insisted.
He said that if a member of the INC goes back home after their worship service, they run the risk of getting infected and spreading the infection once they get back home.
“I just hope the Iglesia ni Cristo has enough Covid-19 testing kits so they could check their constituents. I am sure they are afraid of what will happen to them if one or two of their members get infected,” he said.
Even Catholics who wanted to push through with their Holy Week rituals were warned not to push through with their plans of observing their yearly tradition.
“This is the best time to really pray…nobody knows now who will get infected and who will die. If people will insist on being so arrogant not to follow, they are not just risking their own lives, but they are risking other people’s lives by not following the lockdown.”
He clarified that the DILG will not arrest any pastor or religious leader who will call their members to leave their homes and come to their houses of worship to assemble. However, he said that if there was an outbreak and it can be traced to the religious gathering, then the religious leaders can be held liable.
“If there was an infection and it was determined that the infection spread due to that worship service, yes, they can be arrested,” Echiverri said. (Rommel F. Lopez)