CBCP's stand expected to chill anti-GMA mood

The stand of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines not to demand President Gloria Arroyo to resign has been expected to cool down the current volatile situation and mood of indignant sectors, and may even draw others to reconsider their anti-GMA stand.

Human Life International-Pilipinas president Rene Bullecer, also chairman of the Cebu Anti Indecency Board, said CBCP's statement would serve as the basis of action by those who had remained neutral to the tumultuous issue since it started last month.

Bullecer said the statement would cool down the present political stirrings and may even enlighten those who have been demanding for Arroyo's resignation.

"We are so happy that our bishops have not favored for her resignation and is against any military junta. As moral teachers, their statement will hopefully enlighten the whole nation, theirs is for unity," said Bullecer.

The CBCP has been expected earlier to join the calls for Arroyo to quit but it turned out otherwise. Bullecer said Arroyo's resignation is not the solution to the current political crisis and could only worsen the situation.

Talisay City's parish priest, Rev. Fr. Joe Tajanlangit, for his part, agreed that CBCP's stand might influence some people to change their views on the calls for Arroyo to resign from office. Tajanlangit said the CBCP was right in saying that it is not people power but a constitutional process, which is the solution to the current political crises.

"This may be a painful process but we have to follow it. Our negative attitude would not solve our ailing country and economy," said the priest.

However, a militant group official proffered a different view. Anak Pawis official Glemar Bacusmo said his group respected CBCP's stand but it would not stop the fight to press Arroyo to resign.

Anak Pawis would now redouble its efforts to unite the anti-Arroyo groups and intensify protest actions to force the president to relinquish her post for the sake of the country, Bacusmo said.