Davao-based group recruits pastors; promises aid to elderly, PWDs, widows, and single mothers Mar 25th, 2018   [viewed 150 times]

 

BBP National Chairman Bishop Claro Loquias, Jr.

The Davao-based Baptist Bishops of the Philippines (BBP) has been recruiting pastors across denominations promising them of monetary benefits such as monthly stipend, grocery allowance, livelihood projects, and church building fund.

 The pastors, who are designated as bishops, are appointed as chaplains in the different villages, municipalities, and provinces. They were promised to receive P25,000 monthly stipend, grocery allowances, and a package of livelihood in the amount of P10 million and church building fund amounting to P50 million for each church.

 Pastor Alfonso Cuaresma, head pastor of a Pentecostal church in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay, showed to the Chronicle his BBP identification card signed by Loquias. He has paid P350 for the identification card.

 Cuaresma said he was appointed as chaplain for Barangay Ipil Heights, one of the 28 villages of Ipil municipality where his church is located.

 Hundreds of pastors were asked to submit livelihood proposals to BBP, which will be forwarded to Malacanang in Manila. Malacanang is the official residence of any sitting Philippine president.

 Each livelihood proposal, Cuaresma said, is worth P10 million to benefit the members of every church.

 “I don’t know if this going to happen but I only hope that this blessing will be realized,” he said.

 He is hoping, however, for “the best.” Loquias, he said, told them that President Duterte had already downloaded “a big sum of money” to BBP.

 The BBP has also included in its program the aid for the elderly, widows, single mothers, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

 In coordination with the Knights of the King Circle International, Inc., the BBP asked the pastors to submit the names of 200 beneficiaries for each church. Each beneficiary, according to Cuaresma, will receive a monthly stipend.

 BBP national chairman Bishop Claro Loquias, Jr. is the leader of Charity Baptist Church in Davao City and a known supporter of President Duterte. It has 17 member churches in Mindanao and claimed to have at least 36,000 member churches nationwide.

 The sheer amount of money promised to the pastors has led some pastors to suspect if the “promised benefits will be realized.”

 A pastor, a new BBP member who requested not to be named, said he has “doubts about the program” but remains hopeful because Loquias is “a very close supporter of President Duterte.”

Loquias had also supported the presidential bid of Bro. Eddie Villanueva in 2010. He was also known as a staunch supporter of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

 The BBP founder had allegedly been involved with controversies before. These controversies continue to hound him.

 The self-styled bishop from Davao City is the son of the founder of Central Baptist Church, Bishop Claro Loquias, Sr. He entered into the Christian ministry in 2005 as an independent and founded the Charity Baptist Church. (Antonio Manaytay, Email: antonio.manaytay@yahoo.com)