Businessmen-bishops confab warns vs moves for GMA to extend Palace stay

Solons dare DoJ chief to charge ‘seditious’ bishops

By Angie M. Rosales

10/31/2008

Following the claim of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez that the five bishops who had called for a new government and radical reforms to finally rid the government of massive corruption under President Arroyo, and stating that the liberators were just around the corner to bring about this new government, senators yesterday dared the Justice chief to make good his assertions that the bishops’ call for radical reform in government is seditious and challenged him to file the appropriate charges if indeed unlawful acts were committed.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero twitted Gonzalez’s claims, perceived by them as a threat to church leaders, as they urged the Cabinet official to prove them wrong.

“Gonzalez can no longer distinguish between what is seditious and those who merely call for reforms,” said Pimentel.

Escudero said the DoJ chief, instead of threatening the church leaders and the public, should file a case.

“I return the challenge to Secretary Gonzales to automatically file proper charges against these bishops if he finds their act illegal. Verbal threats are no acts of a self-respecting and thinking individual or agency,” he said.

Escudero came to the defense of the prelates, pointing out that they were merely exercising their right to freely express their opinion.

“Thus threatening them with charges of sedition and challenging them to run in the elections from no less than the Justice Secretary is yet again a show of arrogance from this administration.

“This government has time and again stuck to its true color of wantonly chasing individuals it deems critical to them. Threats of charges and charges in themselves are immediately filed left and right against their critics,” he said.

While this administration is easy in going after its perceived enemies, it takes its sweet time to even lift its finger against those persons allied with the government, never mind if these persons have brazenly committed malfeasance and misfeasance to the country and the people, the senator lamented.

“Former President Estrada, who is an Arroyo critic, had already been tried, convicted and pardoned but we have yet to see them (Arroyo administration) touch the cases of former Justice Secretary Nani Perez and now the infamous Joc-joc Bolante.

“This is a challenge that Raul Gonzales and Ombudsman Merceditas Guitterez should take up because they owe it to the Filipino people.

“In case they have forgotten it, I now remind them that the symbol of justice is a blindfolded lady who does not side with anyone,” Escudero said.

Malacañang’s response to the call of the bishops was for them tobe “more responsible” in giving out their statements” as the call made by them sows confusion, if not panid.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said that while in a democracy everyone is free to say what he wants to say, but that the bishops should know better to position themselves and put themselves in their right places, referring to spiritual needs.

She added that this is not the right time to call for destabilization.

At the same time, fearing that either martial law is to be imposed, or moves for Charter change will be in earnest in the next few weeks in a bid by Malacanang to ensure a longer stay for Mrs. Arroyo to be in power, the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference (BBC) on Human Development yesterday warned against moves to keep her in power beyond June 29, 2010, her expected termination of her stay in Malacanang.

In a statement entitled “A Call for Statesmanship for a Stronger Democracy and for Vigilance of Citizens,” the BCC slammed perceived fresh attempts by Arroyo allies in the House of Representatives to change the Charter to bring about a shift in the system of government, from presidential to parliamentary, under a federal form of government.

It will be recalled that Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, in response to the call of the five bishops who called for radical reforms under a new government and one that is not corrupt, stated that since the bishops are for “systemic” change, they should now join Malacañang and other sectors in introducing systemic reforms through a Charter change.

But the BBC slammed moves to amend the Constitution, and in its statement said that the Constitution is clear that presidential elections are scheduled to be held in May 2010, and that the present administration under President Arroyo has to step down from power by June 30, 2010.

The BBC said it is concerned at the various moves that may derail the holding of the scheduled presidential election.

“Mainly coming from the House of the Representatives, is another move for Charter change, this time for a shift to a federal form of government, using as a reason the pursuit of peace in Mindanao,” the BBC pointed out.

The group also stressed that there is also the concern it has on the prospect of Martial Law to abort the 2010 elections.

“The peaceful transfer of power through regular and periodic elections, is the bedrock of a democracy. Charter change, if necessary, and the pursuit of peace in Mindanao, which is of the highest priority, should be a part of the continuing agenda of the government, regardless of a change in administration. So is social justice, which is the heart of our Constitution. And we have a right to choose through clean elections those who would lead us to these ends.”

The BBC explained that Charter change through a constituent assembly was withdrawn in 2007 because the House sensed the citizens’ outrage at the attempt to railroad the proposal for a parliamentary system.

It also pointed out that many senators, whose two-thirds vote is logically necessary to convene a constituent assembly, expressed opposition to interpret the Constitution as requiring a joint rather than a separate vote.

But the BBC also said that it has “faith that if the issue reaches the Supreme Court, it will rule correctly as it did on the “people’s initiative” and the attempts to test the legal boundaries of executive power, despite the recent decision on executive privilege.”

Derailing the elections the group said, will be “rejected resoundingly by the people in a plebiscite,” but warned that this is to be done “not without the cost of divisiveness and political turbulence, and the diversion of national attention from the things that matter most to our people now – livelihood, food, education, health, social reform, CARP extension, equal justice, clean elections – which can all be done without changing the Constitution.

“As for Martial Law, the Supreme Court will again be the final arbiter on the issue of the “sufficiency of the factual basis” for its proclamation. And in the unlikely event that the Court sustains its declaration, the extension of Martial Law will be decided by Congress, by a majority vote, voting jointly. This is a source of grave concern because we see no valid basis for it and there are many who will resist any return to authoritarianism. The situation can lead to turmoil, instability and even violence. And those who will suffer the most will be the poor.

“We believe that no public official will choose to go against the overwhelming sentiment of our people for democracy and against any form of authoritarianism. A Marcos, when confronted with the issue of taking lives to stay in power, did not send troops to Edsa to stop the people power revolt. A Ramos backed down from removing the term limits of the Constitution rather than face a nationwide protest. An Estrada chose to leave Malacañang than risk a clash between forces, armed and civilian, for and against him. And an Arroyo can step down gracefully in 2010,” the group reminded Mrs. Arroyo.

The BBC appealed to the leaders to give democracy a chance to work better by holding credible presidential elections in 2010. “We call on those who believe that we can make this happen to be vigilant and to make our sentiments known clearly and loudly to those who are in power or who would want their turn at it, so that they will all rise to the challenge of statesmanship.”

It is believed that the BBC also issued this statement as a counterfoil to the bishops’ call for a new government through radical means, as Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, also strongly hinted at a people’s uprising while stating that the Filipinos should be united in communal action to bring the radical changes about.

The call of the bishops was generally seen as a call for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo through extra-constitutional means, or a people’s revolt, which evidently, the BBC does not support.

Meanwhile, a statement of the Sangunian Pambansa ng mga Simbahan sa Pilipinas (National Council of churches in the Philippines, also made the media rounds.

It stated that the recent pronouncement of Archbishops Lagdameo and Oscar Cruz and Bishops Joel Baylon, Socrates Villegas and Jose Sorra for “radical reforms” to “prepare a new government” and to solve the “social and moral cancer” that is corruption is a wake-up call not only for the government of Mrs. Arroyo but also for the Filipino people, saying it was a call for the “exercise of Christian social responsibility.”

In supporting the Bishops’ call, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines reiterated that “bribery and other corrupt practices continue to be the glaring manifestations of moral decadence under the present administration. These shady practices seem to have become the norm and that decency has been sacrificed in the desire to remain in power.

Wherefore “general mistrust, cynicism and disgust have replaced public trust in government and when public trust is lost, the moral ascendancy to govern is lost.”

“At times like this, we are called to repentance for our apathy and neglect. Those in authority are called to repentance for their irresponsible use of power characterized by non-regard of the general welfare, which has led to our worsening condition. A government for its own sake and for the interest of a few can neither be called such nor claim to be democratic. We long for a government truly serving its citizens. We pray for a government that does not point a finger to the whole world to cover up for its accountabilities. We will be steadfast in prayer and act courageously in the journey of the people for a government which fears God whose will is peace and justice.” With Pat C. Santos and Tribune wires

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006