CBCP refutes fake news that bishops condemn Hapilon, Maute deaths

(Photo grabbed from CBCP News Facebook page)

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) denied on Tuesday a circulating false report, stating that they condemn the killing of the two extremist leaders, Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.

A certain post by the “Rodrigo Duterte Supporters” Facebook page claimed on Monday that CBCP President Socrates Villegas reportedly said in a pastoral meeting that “the photos of the killed leaders should not have been shown to public.”

Villegas, however, said that the institution never made such statement and rather commended the heroic efforts of the soldiers to free Marawi City.

“Once more, CBCP is the hapless victim of fake news. Going viral on social media is a ‘report’ that the CBCP regrets the killing of Messrs. Hapilon and Maute,” Villegas said in a statement.

Villegas added: “On the contrary we laud the gallantry of our soldiers and their heroic efforts to free Marawi. We will gladly join government in rebuilding the city in the measure we are able. We pray for all the dead, and for lasting peace in Mindanao.”

The post, debunked by CBCP as fake news, reached more than 32,000 reactions and almost 30,000 shares 8 hours after it was posted.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed yesterday that Hapilon and Maute were killed in a military assault earlier that day.

In a statement released on June 21, Villegas had also called for the public to stop spreading fake news and alternative facts, emphasizing that a Christian cannot be part of falsehood and deceit.