Bayan Calls CBCP Statement ‘Absurd’

Says it will not derail the people’s growing struggle to make Arroyo accountable for her lies and crimes

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) described today as “absurd” and “misleading” the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to “take the lead in combating corruption”.

The multisectoral alliance said that while it welcomes the appeal of the bishops for a “determined and relentless” search for the truth and for Arroyo to abolish Executive Order (EO) No. 464 , it argued that the CBCP errs grievously in its assertion that Arroyo could “take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found” and that she will “allow her subordinates to reveal any corrupt acts, particularly about the ZTE-NBN deal”.

Bayan chairperson Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo said that Arroyo has long lost the moral ascendancy to lead the fight against corruption in government because of persistent and unresolved cases of big-time corruption that reach the highest levels of the bureaucracy, including Malacañang itself.

Araullo added that it is absurd for the CBCP to believe that Arroyo could be part of efforts to bring out the truth in the $329-million NBN-ZTE contract. “From the start, Arroyo and her cohorts have systematically concealed the truth from the public. I wonder how the CBCP could have missed the obvious well-orchestrated attempts to cover-up the broadband scandal”, Araullo said, citing the attempted bribery and abduction of whistleblower Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr.by government officials and police authorities

“The people need not wait for the CBCP to call for Arroyo’s resignation . The long list of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations, the sell-out of the national interest, big-time corruption cases, the web of lies, and blatant use of state power and public money to conceal the truth and avoid prosecution by this regime are more than enough grounds for the people to act”, said the Bayan leader.

The latest CBCP statement turns a blind eye to the culpability of Arroyo herself in all these wrongdoings thereby misleading the laity from a proper discernment of the truth and what they are called upon to do.

Araullo noted that within the CBCP, there are a significant number of bishops who are willing to fight, along with the people, for truth, justice, accountability, and meaningful change in the system of governance in the country. “We are confident they will continue to discern and act with the people”, she said.

Bayan, together with various anti-Arroyo groups and those earnestly calling for the full disclosure of the truth, including the religious, business, sectoral organizations, and other political forces, will hold an interfaith prayer rally in Makati City on January 29 to further intensify public pressure for Arroyo to step down. (END)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to PinoyPress for publication. Please email your materials to pinoypress @ gmail.com. PinoyPress is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of PinoyPress and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.