PEOPLE DUE TO ONGOING PUBLICITY
[PHOTO
- Bishop Arturo Bastes]
MANILA, AUGUST 6, 2011 (STAR) By Angelo L. Gutierrez - A Catholic bishop is urging
former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to admit to
allegations that she cheated to keep the presidency in 2004.
"Whether she really won or not, she should admit that she cheated. [A]
repentant sinner is a saint before the Lord," Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said
in an interview on Church-controlled Radio Veritas yesterday.
Bastes told Arroyo that telling the truth is the only way for her to come
clean and "correct a mistake."
Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, meanwhile, said that if
people behind the cheating would choose to remain silent, he is confident that
the truth will still come out.
"I am certain that in spite of whatever things are said and done the truth
ultimately comes out. Like what they say that the truth will set you free," Cruz
said.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also warned those involved in the
alleged election rigging that the "truth can never be hidden."
"In the end the truth will come out. Those involved in the controversy should
rectify their mistakes by coming out and revealing the whole truth," said
Pabillo.
Mrs. Arroyo and her husband, first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, have been
accused of ordering vote-padding and -shaving of votes in 2004 and 2007.
Talk on the legitimacy of Mrs. Arroyo's presidency was revived with
revelations of suspended ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Maguindanao
election supervisor Lintang Bedol.
Ampatuan and Bedol claimed that the former first couple ordered the shaving
of votes from several senatorial candidates in 2007 and pad the votes to
senatorial candidates who were running under the former president's ticket.
A group of policemen, led by Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago, has also
revealed the alleged switching of election returns (ERs) that were kept inside
the Batasan Pambansa complex in 2005.
The policemen said that the former first gentleman ordered the operation,
which was allegedly done in anticipation of Congress' approval of a petition by
the camp of the late Fernando Poe Jr. to open the ERs.
Aside from allegations of their involvement in massive election fraud, the
Arroyo couple are also facing a string of charges in the Office of the Ombudsman
and the Department of Justice.
The couple has gone ill. Mrs. Arroyo had just been discharged from the
hospital after undergoing a spinal surgery while Mr. Arroyo had to fly to Hong
Kong for a full medical checkup.
'Arroyos now guilty in the eyes of people' By
Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star) Updated July 31, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo expressed fears yesterday that his client will no longer get a
fair trial in the courts of law, as he lamented what he calls massive trial by
publicity generated by exposés on graft and corruption against her and
allegations of fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
"In the eyes of the people, the former President and her family are already
convicted on the charges hurled against them," Raul Lambino, legal spokesman of
the Arroyos, said in a news forum held at Annabel's restaurant in Quezon City
yesterday.
Lambino expressed concern that the publicity generated by the allegations
will influence the prosecutors and even the judges who will be handling the
cases against his clients.
"There is a day of reckoning but the rule of the law, due process and rights
of the accused must prevail," he said.
But he gave assurance that the Arroyos are prepared to face the legal charges
head on.
Lambino said there is "a well orchestrated media blitz" directed against the
former President and her family, citing exposés of alleged whistle-blowers under
the supervision of top government officials.
He also raised doubts on the reported break-in of policemen at the Batasan
Pambansa to replace original election returns, which happened long after the
proclamation of the winning candidate.
He said claims that it was carried out in connection with the impending
election protest of the widow of the late Fernando Poe Jr. have no legal basis
because the documents to be examined during the revision of votes are the
ballots and not the election returns.
"So why replace election returns when it's not relevant in election protest?"
he asked.
He added that the supposed break-in was already investigated during the time
of former Speaker Jose de Venecia and it was established that there was no such
thing.
Catholic bishops back poll fraud probe
Officials of the Catholic Church said they support the investigation of
alleged irregularities in the 2004 elections, confident that the truth would
finally come out after seven years.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said that while election
cheating has been long been happening in the country, authorities should not
give up their quest for the truth.
"They should look for the truth, that is the only thing. Look for what is the
truth. We should look for all the lies and correct them," Rosales said.
He also asked the people to offer prayers for truth to prevail.
"We have to seek for the truth," Emeritus Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal
added.
"Whatever they should do, they should do it in such a way that is according
to the Supreme Court's spirit, that this should be done in the most benign way,"
Vidal said when asked how the Aquino administration should go about
investigating corruption allegedly committed by the previous administration.
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee
chairman Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, meanwhile, advised investigators to
just accept all testimonies.
"They should just accept and accept (everything) then examine. It is not
necessary that they believe them, but it is a beginning," Iniguez said.
At least 17 more people have reportedly expressed willingness to come out and
provide information on the alleged massive irregularities in the 2004 and 2007
polls. - With Evelyn Macairan
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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