Mayor hails Vidal’s stand not to call for GMA ouster

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday expressed appreciation over the earlier statement of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal that he would not heed the call for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Many religious groups in Manila have joined the call for Arroyo to resign amidst the brewing ZTE broadband deal controversy. But in Cebu, no less than Vidal said he would not be dipping his finger into the ongoing political turmoil.

“I hardly ever make statements like this… I’m very happy to hear the comments of Cardinal Vidal…the role of the church is to help its people find the truth, not playing politics,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña had said that while he has nothing against ZTE star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada’s visit to Cebu to talk on the alleged anomaly, he does not necessarily believe Lozada because he still has confidence in Arroyo.

Lozada’s testimony before the Senate on the alleged anomalous National Broadband Network contract between the government and China’s ZTE Corporation has sparked massive protests against the Arroyo administration.

Meanwhile, Osmeña said he appreciates the fact that the archdiocese did not interfere in the case against Fr. Benedicto Ejares, especially now that the City Prosecutor’s Office has forwarded to court criminal charges against the priest.

Ejares was accused of inappropriate behavior by at least seven high school students during a religious seminar in November 2006.

Osmeña yesterday said the city prosecutors have his support.

“We would like to encourage our fiscals…they have the support of the mayor…do your job, forget that he is a priest, just look at the person and see if what he did was right or wrong,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said there is a “natural reluctance” to prosecute a priest, especially in a Catholic country like the Philippines where priests are regarded highly.  — Joeberth M. Ocao/LPM