Demand Letter Sent By Solis Medina Limpingco & Fajardo Law Office to Bro. Rey Manipis Sr. last November 24, 2008
STATEMENT OF CAVITE LODGE NO. 2
Last December 4 and 5, we, the brethren of Cavite Lodge No. 2, F. & A.M., received individual demand letters from the SOLIS MEDINA LIMPINGCO & FAJARDO LAW OFFICE, on behalf of their client, “the Grand Lodge of the Phil-ippines, Inc.” The letters claim that we are “illegally occupying” the property of their client at “Caridad Extension, Cavite City, covered by Transfer Certificate Nos. (T-391) RT-2335 and (T-392) RT-2336 since September 2006 up to the present. The said letters also purport to collect rental income on such property in the amount of not less than twenty five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) per month or a running current total of not less than seven hundred thousand pesos (P700,000.00)”. The letters ended with a demand that we “immediately vacate” the premises and “remit the amount of not less than seven hundred thousand pesos (P700,000.00) within seven (7) days” from its receipt.
While we are almost certain that the MW Pacifico Aniag, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines (GLP), has nothing to do with this latest act of persecution directed against Cavite Lodge No. 2, we condemn this in strongest terms possible as bereft of any legal or factual basis.
Since we declared independence from the GLP back in 2006, we have endured tremendous suffering. We were branded, albeit unfairly, as “clandes-tine” or “bastardo” and had our names expunged from the GLP records. Photos of some of us were even posted at their Grand Lodge and elsewhere like a rogue gallery of wanted criminals. We started losing memberships in appendant bodies like the York and Scottish Rites by pressure from the GLP.
But we did not succumb to any of these harassments. For one, we can live with being called names because we are in perfect company with the likes of Rizal and Bonifacio, who would fit to a tee the irresponsible label of “clandestine mason” as somebody outside the GLP. And now this latest act of desperation by some misguided members of the GLP who suppose that this arm-twisting will intimidate us into submission.
Much as these brethren have the right to remain obedient to a highly regimented organization, no one should force us to go along with them and just follow their system. If they honestly believe that a good number of us have already returned back to their fold, then maybe it is just a matter of time before no one remains at our lodges. If they firmly trust that theirs is a better Grand Lodge system and that we have committed a grievous mistake, then by all means just let us fall into the dustbin of history and fade into oblivion. If they cannot treat us as brothers, then for decency’s sake can they not simply respect us as human beings?
The freedom to disagree and to be left alone is not only one of the hall-marks of our democratic system but is something which we greatly owe to our Masonic spirit. We at Cavite Lodge No. 2 will defend this sacred right at all cost.
chitonshirley wrote today at 9:38 PM
