Friday, May 23, 2008 Bishop defends holding of Mayuga report
A CATHOLIC bishop said former Navy chief Mateo Mayuga might have a good reason in not revealing the findings of his investigation into the alleged involvement of some generals in the "Hello Garci" scandal.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, former head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) military ordinate, said: "I think its either he (Mayuga) really does not remember (the content of the report) or secondly he feels that its might not be good to release it since it might create greater problem."
"I also think that he is just being careful because it might be misinterpreted if he said something," added the prelate.
Being in the military for more than a decade, Arguelles admitted that getting information from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) especially on matters involving the "higher ups" would be very difficult.
He explained that every assignment given to military personnel are treated with utmost "secrecy" unless they were given orders to disclose it.
"In the military, if I were given assignment by the higher ups, after I completed that assignment I will submit it to the higher ups and I have no business telling everybody what was the assignment all about, unless the higher ups will allow me to reveal anything on the report. Military personnel are very obedient," said Arguelles.
Moreover, Arguelles noted that the decision not to release the results could be very important and something that might cause national security problem.
The AFP earlier said they would have to conduct a thorough study of the Mayuga report first before deciding on whether to release the report or not.
Mayuga, for his part, while refusing to reveal the contents of his investigation said he does not remember any of it since he has been out of service for too long.
The CBCP hierarchy has been calling for the release of the Mayuga report after allegation that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo manipulated the May 2004 elections remains unresolved. (MSN/Sunnex)
