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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bishops slam government corruption
MANILA -- The influential Roman Catholic bishops slammed massive government corruption Tuesday and urged the public to help overhaul President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's graft-ridden administration.
The criticism aired by leaders of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was one of their strongest yet against Arroyo's administration, but it stopped short of urging her to step down.
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The bishops' group has played a key role in nonviolent "people power" revolts that previously ousted two leaders, including late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, in the last two decades. But efforts by opposition groups to stir such massive protests to oust Arroyo so far have failed to draw considerable crowds.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the 100-strong bishops' group, said it was up to the public to decide whether to seek a new leader through nonviolent and constitutional means.
Despite several warnings from the Catholic Church about endemic government corruption, the problem has continued in alarming proportions under Arroyo's leadership, Lagdameo said, citing a series of corruption allegations against her administration.
"In the past few years up to today, we have watched how corruption has become endemic, massive, systemic and rampant in our politics," Lagdameo said in a statement read at a news conference.
"In response to the global economic crisis and the pitiful state of our country, the time to rebuild our country economically, socially, politically is now," said Lagdameo, who appeared with four other bishops.
Meanwhile, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz on asked the Filipino people to be watchful on the move of groups, who are pushing to amend the Constitution when Congress resumes session next month.
Cruz, a former president of the influential CBCP, said he has received information that the present government will exhort all its effort to implement its plan in changing the 1987 Constitution.
"What is being said that election in 2010 is a big dream up to this time, an election is a big moral impossibility. When Congress resumes, Charter change will be a well-funded move at the House of Representatives," he said.
The prelate said unlike previous attempts in pushing for Charter amendments, this time, it will be very upfront.
"No more double-talk, no more camouflage moves this time. It will be initiated and it will be done through a Con-Ass or Constitutional Assembly," said Cruz.
The CBCP condemns the moves to amend the Constitution, saying it is not intended to initiate change but to extend President Arroyo's term.
There have been several attempts by the government to modify the Constitution via people's initiative (PI), Con-Ass, or Constitutional Convention (Con-Con), but failed to materialize as the public opposed the plan.
Cruz said he sees the Senate as the possible stumbling block in the administration's bid to railroad Charter change.
"Believe me, the moment it passes through Congress, it goes through a plebiscite; then, it is done since all local government officials are under the command of Malacañang," he said.
Arroyo, who has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and vowed to eliminate corruption, has survived three impeachment bids over allegations of corruption. She also has survived at least four coup plots in her tumultuous years in office.
Presidential spokesman Jesus Dureza said Arroyo will focus on ways to brace the country from the possible impact of the global financial turbulence rather than answer the bishops' criticisms.
"We will continue to focus on our work for the poor and address a bigger issue ... this global crisis," Dureza said. (AP/FP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (October 29, 2008 issue)
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