This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 6, March 12-18, 2006
Bacolod Bishop to Arroyo: Step Down Now
Another Catholic bishop has directly demanded that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
step down from office – adding his voice to calls earlier made by Abp. Oscar
Cruz and Bps. Julio Xavier Labayen, Deogracias Iñiguez, and Antonio Tobias. Bp.
Vicente Navarra of the Diocese of Bacolod expressed this call and has even led a
prayer rally demanding the president’s resignation. BY
KARL G. OMBION “As long as it is within
the confines of the Constitution and non-violent change, and it is truly the
will of the people, I am in favor of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down.” This was the answer of Bp.
Vicente Navarra to the persistent question of local media concerning his views
regarding the growing clamor for Macapagal-Arroyo’s removal. He also said that
that if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo comes to Bacolod on March 14, he will
tell her of the real conditions of Negrosanons, and that “they want GMA to step
down now.” Navarra also referred to a
Jan. 29 pastoral statement by the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP), which calls for a relentless pursuit of the truth.
He however clarified that
while the official position of the CBCP does not make a categorical and
unequivocal call for Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation, the organization's stand is
definitely not neutral. “The CBCP is all out for change, either by reforms in
government economic and political policies, or by the people’s clamor that GMA
step down to pave the way for a peaceful turn-over of power,” he said. Navarra explained these in
a press conference last March 6, together with representatives of the broad
multi-sectoral formation Concerned Negrosanons for Freedom and Democracy (Confredem).
Members of the Confredem include the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New
Patriotic Alliance)-Negros, Laban ng Masa (The Masses’ Fight), Negros Movement
for Moral Regeneration, September 6 Movement, SEEDCORE, Promotion of Church
People’s Response (PCPR), Peace Advocates of Negros. Navarra read during the
press conference his pastoral letter, which urges the people “to defend the
truth, and remain steadfast witnesses of the truth.” “Our nation is fed with and
thrives on lies, half truths and double talks, and it is a nation not truly
free,” Navarra said. “Our rightful claim for
truth has never been answered, not given due course of law,” Navarra further
said, referring to the killing of impeachment proceedings, the “Garcillano
tapes” scandal, and jueteng scams, among others. He also cited the case of the
undue disbarment of Bacolod human rights lawyer Francisco Cruz, as well as the
dismissal of an illegal logging case in the town of Don Salvador Benedicto, as
“clear proofs” that “our rightful claims for truth have never been answered.” On March 8, Navarra, backed
by dozens of clergy and leaders of religious congregations led more than 10,000
marchers in a prayer rally at the Bacolod public plaza to denounce Macapagal-Arroyo’s
state of national emergency, threats of martial law reimposition, mining
expansion, and Charter change, among others. In the program, Navarra
read his pastoral letter, the main message of which is to “disturb the
conscience of the leaders of this land,” and calls on the people to register
their protests as Christians. “Be more vigilant for
truth, remain steadfast witnesses of the truth, because we are adrift in a
turbulent sea of lies and falsehoods,” Navarra urged the marchers. “We have to make our voices
heard as we search for truth and for the redress of our human dignity impaired
by machinations of people with vested and partisan interests – the very reason
why as Church and concerned citizens we strongly registered our protest against
the imposition of state of national emergency, albeit lifted already,” Navarra
also said. After the bishop’s message,
representatives of cause-oriented organizations, civil society, media, lawyers
and local government units offered their respective prayers, most of whom
offered their call for more vigilance, courage, righteousness, and resoluteness
in seeking the truth, removal of GMA, and “liberating the people.” Fr. Aniceto Buenafe,
director for social action of the Diocese of Bacolod, elated by the big turnout
of ralliers, said: “I am so glad that people have responded positively to our
call, and showed their readiness to resist the threat of martial law
reimposition.” “I hope our actions and
statements here will be heard in the national level, especially in Malacañang,
so they would know we are disgusted with the way GMA runs our government and
country,” he said. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Bulatlat