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Monday, July 17, 2006
Nalzaro: Rice and envelope diplomacy
By Bobby Nalzaro
CALL it coincidence. But it was very timely for the government to show its generosity towards the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), just as it was about to come up with its stand on the impeachment complaints against President Arroyo. The CBCP, during its recently concluded plenary meeting, decided not to support the impeachment complaints against Arroyo, calling it a useless political exercise.
The group, though, said it will not stop its members from openly supporting the impeachment process as long as they do so own their own.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez was the third complainant of a serialized impeachment complaints filed against Arroyo two weeks ago.
Reports said weeks before the plenary meeting, the government distributed sacks of rice to almost all of the archdioceses in the country. But the bishops said the sacks of rice were for their “rice for the poor” program. Well, receiving donations from the government, like in the case of cash from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor)), has put the church in a very compromising situation.
The church condemns gambling, be it legal or otherwise, on the grounds that it is immoral. Yet the church is one of the beneficiaries of Pagcor, which derives its revenue through legalized gambling.
But in fairness to our church leaders, the dole-out from the government does not go directly to their pockets. The church serves only as a conduit to various charitable institutions, like the Caritas, Franciscan Sisters and other nongovernmental organizations.
But what was very scandalous was the alleged bribery that took place during the CBCP’s plenary meeting, when the bishops were about to come up with their stand on the impeachment complaints.
A Malacañang emissary slipped through the conference venue and distributed envelops containing cash. Three bishops—CBCP vice chairman Antonio Ledesma, Pedro Arigo of Palawan and Jose Manguiran of Dipolog City—admitted that they were handed an envelope containing cash.
But upon learning that it contained money, they returned it to the giver, Fatima Valdes, undersecretary for religious affairs. But what is very disturbing is this: only three bishops had the courage to reveal what happened. What about the other bishops?
Malacañang denied the allegation, saying the story is aimed at sowing animosity between the administration and the church. So whom will we believe, political operators in Malacañang or servants of God who have no political and personal agenda? Where are the other bishops who are vocal against the administration? Why did they suddenly become quiet when the issue came out? Why won’t they condemn it instead? I hope their decision on the impeachment matter was not totally influenced by “rice and envelope diplomacy.” Amen.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com/09182198333)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 17, 2006 issue)
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