Asian Political News: 3RD LD: Philippine bishops demand Arroyo pay heed to political crisis

MANILA, July 10 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDS ARROYO STATEMENT)

The Philippines' powerful Roman Catholic bishops, at a meeting Sunday, said they are not demanding the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but they did urge her ''not to ignore'' the growing constitutional crisis surrounding her leadership.

The bishops -- numbering at least 80 and who are considered the ''moral shepherds'' of their respective communities -- said the president must pay strict attention to the difficulties facing her and her country.

''We believe that no single concrete option regarding (Arroyo) can claim to be the only one demanded by the Gospel...we declare our prayerfully discerned collective decision that we do not demand her resignation,'' the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said in a pastoral letter.

''Yet neither do we encourage her simply to dismiss such a call from others,'' the letter said.

''We recognize that nonviolent appeals for her resignation, the demand for a Truth Commission and the filing of an impeachment case are not against the Gospel,'' it said.

The carefully worded letter was the result of three days of prayer and much discussion, the bishops said at a press conference after the outgoing conference president, Archbishop Fernando Capalla, read the letter.

''People of goodwill and credibility who hold different political convictions should come together and dialogue in order to help move the country out of its present impasse,'' the letter said.

Arroyo is under fire for improperly speaking with an election official during the presidential campaign last year, which has led to allegations of cheating in the vote. She is also being castigated over allegations her husband, son and brother-in-law have received gambling kickbacks.

She has admitted the conversation, which she called a ''lapse in judgment,'' but she denied having cheated to win the presidency.

The bishops noted in their letter that ''beyond apology is accountability.''

If trust is to be restored, the bishops said, there must be a ''thorough, credible and independent process'' to examine allegations, punish the guilty and enforce radical reforms in various agencies of the government.

''We would ask the president to discern deeply to what extent she might have contributed to the erosion of effective governance and whether the erosion is so severe as to be irreversible. In her heart she has to make the necessary decision for the sake of the country,'' the letter said.

On this, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the new conference president, said the bishops thought Arroyo must strive to prove her remorse for her behavior.

''The president acknowledges some wrongdoing on her part. For us, she should continue and give proof that she is sorry about what she has done,'' Lagdameo said.

Arroyo, in a recorded message played on radio and television about four hours after the letter was released, thanked the bishops for their concern and said she would ''continue to pray with the Filipino people for true redemption from corruption and evil.''

''I have searched deeply for moral discernment...we must also focus on getting our economy moving. I will work with the Church, members of the civil society, to help build a better quality of life for the people of the Philippines and to put an end to the political bickering that is causing such harm to our nation,'' she said.

Michael Defensor, a spokesman for Arroyo, said the bishops' statement jives with Arroyo's concern about the settlement of the political conflict.

''She would like to avoid violence in the resolution of this conflict and definitely the (bishops') statement responds to that, that we not become overzealous in our advocacies and to settle this through a peaceful manner,'' Defensor said.

But Congressman Teodoro Casino, among those calling for Arroyo to step down, said the conference, as the most conservative group within the Church in the Philippines, ''was not expected to come out with its sword and call for resignation.''

''That statement by the CBCP is to be expected. Historically, the CBCP as an institution has not called for the resignation of the president in 1986 and 2001. What is significant is that the individual bishops are taking a stand and that the CBCP was forced to come up with a decision on the matter. I think their statement is good enough,'' Casino said.

Casino, referring to uprisings that installed two presidents, including Arroyo, said it was the late Cardinal Jaime Sin who was outspoken about political issues and he brought along with him the Catholic hierarchy.

Arroyo's corruption-tainted husband, Jose Miguel, left the country last Wednesday, ostensibly to avoid complicating matters. She also promised reforms ahead of the en masse resignation of key members of her economic team.

Even so, several disaffected Cabinet members, former President Corazon Aquino and many other groups within Philippine society have called for her to quit.