After the blasts
from
Votester Political news site More and more bishops, While they are supposedly apolitical, some members of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have taken sides on whether President Gloria Arroyo should step down or remain in office.
The line was drawn Monday after 18 bishops from Mindanao objected to an earlier call made by three colleagues from Luzon calling for Mrs. Arroyos resignation over a series of scandals, the latest of which is alleged bribery of some local government officials by Malacaang.
Eighteen bishops, led by Archbishop Fernando Capalla, the CBCPs immediate past president, said that all allegations against Mrs. Arroyo should first be proven though an investigation before calls for her resignation could be justified.
There is a need for a thorough and impartial investigation as prescribed by law, truth and honesty and a sense of patriotism, the bishops said in a joint statement at the conclusion of their annual recollection for World Day of Peace in Siargao in Surigao del Norte. The Mindanao bishops said they support the growing clamor for moral integrity and fiscal transparency from our leaders including ourselves and also asked Filipinos to pray for sincere repentance and forgiveness.
Other bishops in the group include: Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag; Archbishop Jesus Dosado of Ozamiz; Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela, Basilan; Bishop Romulo Valles of Zamboanga, and Bishop Antonieto Cabajog of Surigao.
Earlier, Archbishop Emeritus Julio Labayen of Infanta, Quezon, Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, and Bishop Deogracias Yiguez of Caloocan, asked Mrs. Arroyo to step down amid allegations of anomalies in her administration.
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