Church to discuss Pajero scandal on plenary meeting

Friday, July 1, 2011

THE influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is expected to discuss a controversy involving some of its members who supposedly received sports utility vehicles from the previous administration.

The so-called "Pajero scam" -- named after the SUV supposedly received by some of its members -- will be discussed during its 103rd Plenary Assembly next weekend, CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchimar said.

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“We will discuss that sa CBCP Plenary Assembly. I’m still going to have to listen to the opinions of the other bishops,” said Odchimar in an interview with reporters.

Bishops who are supposedly involved in the scandal will be personally asked to discuss their position on the matter.

“If they will be around, we will be asking also their positions,” said Odchimar, adding that he does not have a personal knowledge of the supposed “grants” from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The Plenary Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the 131-member CBCP and convenes every January and July.

Several Church leaders were reportedly identified as among those who received sports utility vehicles (SUVs) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under the Arroyo administration.

The former PCSO board reportedly approved a series of resolutions signed in 2009 granting two SUVs to Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, and one each for Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Msgr. Augusto Laban of Sorsogon, and Fr. Roger Lood of a parish in Iligan City.

Odchimar also cited a January 2005 CBCP policy statement that disallows the body from receiving funds.

The statement indicated that it has made it a collective policy “to refrain from soliciting or receiving funds from illegal and legal gambling so as not to promote a culture of gambling”.

However, the Tandag prelate said this does not mean that all the bishops are forced to follow them.

“As I said, this was not generally followed for the benefit of the poor. The needs of the poor are primarily important. For example, somebody comes to me na critical and sickness niya. I would not hesitate to recommend him sa Pagcor. It’s a matter of life and death e,” said Odchimar.

The CBCP chief explained that while there is a conference of Filipino prelates, all bishops and their dioceses are independent of one another and are directly responsible to Pope Benedict XVI. (AMN/Sunnex)