CBCP HIGH COUNCIL TAKES OVER PCSO PROBE / BISHOPS NOT GIVEN FAIR HEARING
[PHOTO - THE CBCP PLENARY ASSEMBLY: PHILIPPINE BISHOPS HIGHEST COUNCIL]CB
MANILA, JULY 11, 2011 (STAR) By Evelyn Macairan - The highest council in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will take over the investigation on the fund mess of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) concerning members of the clergy.
CBCP president Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar said the issue was brought before the Permanent Council to make the investigation into the issue, which he said, was "deemed urgent in character."
"The CBCP Permanent Council would now take over the inquiry to provide for a more broadly represented panel to conduct an inquiry by peers." Odchimar chairs the Permanent Council.
Odchimar said the Permanent Council remains the highest governing body in the CBCP under its charter.
The Permanent Council is composed of a chairman, vice chairman, and 10 regional representatives from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, which "can be convened by the CBCP president at any time to discharge its functions for special purposes, including some particular inquiry that seems urgent in character."
"Moreover, as the CBCP Plenary Assembly, the CBCP highest decision-making body, and its meeting on Monday, the Permanent Council can continue to act for and on its behalf with regard to the inquiry, and to address all public concerns related to it," Odchimar said.
The CBCP earlier conducted its own probe into the PCSO mess on July 2 through its Committee on Bishops' Concern (CBC) chaired by emeritus Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Odchimar said Cardinal Vidal was able to interview each of the concerned bishops who received the funds from the PCSO to purchase vehicles.
The prelates concerned include Lagawe Bishop Rodolfo Beltran in Bontoc, Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Zamboanga Bishop Romulo Valles, Ilocos Sur Bishop Ernesto Salgado, Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, and Isabela Bishop Martin Jumoad.
The CBCP held its 103rd plenary assembly starting yesterday to vote its new set of officers and tackle pressing issues.
Odchimar said the plenary gathering is expected to tackle the PCSO fund mess issue as well as the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending approval at the House of Representatives.
It was gathered that five of the seven bishops tagged in the PCSO fund mess attended the three-day plenary session.
Former Masbate vice governor Antonio Medina of the Catholic Vote Alliance (CVA) said the assistance made by the PCSO to the bishops "should not be construed as impinging on the principle of separation of Church and State as they both can work together in alleviating the plight of the poor."
Medina also suggested the PCSO's disclosure on Bishop Pueblos regarding the "birthday gift" of a Mitsubishi Pajero given to him through the PCSO funds could have been motivated to place the prelate in a bad light.
It could also be a result of Pueblos' earlier call for President Aquino to resign, he said.
Medina also pointed the money donated to the bishop was minuscule compared to the P100 million plus given to lawmakers and local officials.
He said it was not only former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who allegedly tolerated the handing of donations to members of the Catholic Church.
Medina said even during the term of former President Fidel Ramos, several millions of pesos were spent by the government for the renovation of the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan for the inaugural and oath-taking of his successor, former President Joseph Estrada.
The government also spent through the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) some P20 million for the renovation of the Miag-ao Church in Iloilo that was declared a national shrine by the National Historical Commission.
"This proved that the constitutional ban on use of government monies and properties for church purpose was transgressed and is no longer attuned and responsive to the times if not antiquated," Medina said.
Medina also appealed to the PCSO not to single out the bishops.
It should "come out with the records of the donations and grants it made to hospitals, charitable institutions, orphanages, homes for the aged, and the like whether run or managed by the Catholic religious, prelates, protestants, and other sects in order to avoid the perception that the Catholic Church and her bishops were being singled out." Medina said.
He suggested that Congress review the Constitution and enact a law allowing a multi-sectoral and multi-religious poverty-alleviation endeavor with government funding.
PHILSTAR COMMENTARY
Bishops weren't given fair hearing on PCSO POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star) Updated July 10, 2011 12:00 AM
DOUBLE DEALING: Sweepstakes Chair Margie Juico, a devout Catholic, should not have allowed herself to be used in the administration's campaign to demonize the Catholic Church and its bishops who refuse to support birth control legislation.
It was most unkind for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to pretend to be generous in donating money for the Church to buy utility vehicles for social work — and then using the donation to put bishops in bad light in the scandal-oriented media.
Individuals who value their reputation are put on notice not to accept money or aid from the PCSO. One never knows when the PCSO will disclose the donation in a twisted context to embarrass the recipient when he crosses the administration.
* * *
PETTY CASH: There would not be any need for the Church and other non-government organizations to move in a big way in helping the poor if only the administration were already looking after their welfare.
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal told the STAR: "Poor people always knock on our doors, and these vehicles are used for many purposes, for delivery of health and education services. We cannot close our doors to all those who seek our help."
Actually, the money given by the PCSO to some dioceses for their social amelioration projects is petty cash compared to the billions being funneled to the President's social and intelligence funds by the PCSO and other cash cows.
The bishops should have been warned that their accepting state funds may not sit well with government Big Shots who think they have an exclusive access to public funds.
* * *
NOT LUXURIOUS: The PCSO donated money for luxury vans, but most bishops bought instead second-hand 4x4 heavy-duty vehicles that can reach depressed areas despite the bad roads neglected by the government. They used the balance to extend additional assistance.
Although the vehicles are used mainly by social workers of the Church, the money is listed in the PCSO books in the name of the concerned bishop.
Without explaining this detail, Ms Juico played along with the administration campaign to smear the bishops. She pretended to be only the bearer of information from the Commission on Audit.
Led on by the supporting cast in the Senate – and emboldened by the fire support of presidential spokespersons trying hard to sound like disinterested onlookers — Ms Juico succeeded in maligning the bishops.
* * *
LEGISLATIVE LYNCHING: Now senators are luring the bishops to attend their tarring session and thereby worsen their PR problem by their unfamiliarity with the tricks of legislative lynching.
Instead of consenting to their own public hanging, the bishops should return to Ms Juico either the money or the vehicles – and then pray for her, the senators and the talking serpents in the Palace.
Returning the donations will not be an admission of wrongdoing, but an expression of disgust.
* * *
LUISITA NOTES: Our last Postscript on the Supreme Court's order for another referendum on the status of Hacienda Luisita farmers drew backgrounders from readers, like this one from Ara May Sanchez (below, slightly edited):
In her campaign speeches in 1986, Cory said, "We are determined to implement a genuine land reform program to enable beneficiaries to become self-reliant and prosperous farmers."; "Land-to-the-tiller must become a reality, instead of an empty slogan."; "You will probably ask me: Will I also apply it to my family's Hacienda Luisita? My answer is yes."
On Feb 22, 1987, farmers marched to Mendiola to demand genuine land reform. The march turned bloody when Marines fired at the crowd. Twelve farmers were killed and 19 injured in this incident now known as the Mendiola Massacre. In response, Cory issued PP 131 and EO 229 outlining her land reform program.
In 1988, Congress passed RA 6657 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law) paving the way for the redistribution of agricultural lands to tenant-farmers. She inserted the Stock Distribution Option and issued EO 229 empowering her to preside over the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council that would approve stock distribution programs, including the one for Luisita.
Instead of land distribution, Hacienda Luisita reorganized itself into a corporation. Ownership was transferred to the corporation, which in turn gave shares of stock to farmers.
The issue of the Cojuangcos allegedly taking advantage of the powers of the presidency to circumvent land reform haunted Cory's administration and fueled conflict in HL, climaxing in the violence in November 2004 that left seven people dead.
Noynoy is now given a chance to do what is right. He does not have a choice, he is involved. His family greatly benefitted from the 1957 deal subsidized by the people.
* * *
ACQUISITION: When Cory married Ninoy Aquino in 1954, President Magsaysay was one of the sponsors. In 1957, Magsaysay talked to Ninoy of the possibility of his father-in-law (Jose Cojuangco Sr.) acquiring Central Azucarera de Tarlac and Hacienda Luisita from the Spaniards who wanted to sell because of the Huk rebellion and labor problems.
Cojuangco agreed and received preferential treatment and government assistance. He had to pay the Spaniards in dollars so he turned to Manufacturer's Trust Co. in New York for a 10-year, $2.1-million loan. To ease the flow of foreign exchange for the loan, the Central Bank deposited part of the country's international reserves with MTC, NY.
The Central Bank's condition was for him to distribute the land to small farmers in line with Magsaysay's social justice program. The same condition applied to his P7-million loan with GSIS. On April 8, 1958, the Cojuangcos became the new owner of the hacienda and the sugar mill.
The conditions set forth in 1957 required distribution of HL land to small farmers within 10 years (deadline 1967). The controversies that continue until now revolve around the Cojuangcos' refusal to give up control.
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