Government denies singling out Catholic Church in PCSO scam

Saturday, July 2, 2011

THE Palace on Saturday denied that the government is singling out the Catholic Church after it was reported that some members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) allegedly received sports utility vehicles from the previous Arroyo administration.

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla earlier said the Catholic Church is being singled out on the issue.

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But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over government-run dzRB radio: “It’s (report) not personal, it was just based on the 2008 and 2009 COA (Commission on Audit) reports…”

Capalla also dared the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to identify other religious organizations who have also received such financial aid from its agency.

PCSO chair Margie Juico was the one who earlier disclosed several controversies in the agency under the administration of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“If there’s malice in those donations to Catholic bishops, the PCSO must also identify all the other recipients from other Churches,” Capalla, a former president of the CBCP, said.

In a news report posted on the CBCP website, Capalla labeled as “unfair” the accusations against the so-called Pajero 7 -- named after seven Church officials who received Mitsubishi Pajero SUVs -- implying that they are being targeted by the government because of the bishops’ critical position on the controversial reproductive health bill.

“I don’t know why they take it just on Catholic bishops and make it appear as scandalous…This is unfair. I challenged them to show the records, the real records and not the twisted ones,” he added.

Valte stressed that the Constitution states that “no public money shall be appropriated for any religion, for any sect, for any church, for any denomination.”

Besides, she said, the allegations were only based on the findings released by COA.

“Pinagbabawal na magbibigay ng pera mula sa pamahalaan to benefit to or for the benefit or for the support of any (religion)," Valte reiterated.

When asked if the “Pajero 7” may face criminal charges for the allegations thrown at them, Valte said: “It depends on the nature of the offense; because certainly it it’s a criminal offense, nobody is above the law.”

CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchimar plans to discuss the controversy in its 103rd Plenary Assembly next weekend. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)