Archbishop outraged over SUV scandal

Manila, Philippines - Retired Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz is outraged over the granting of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to three bishops and a priest by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Speaking over radio dzBB, Cruz said priests and bishops’ acceptance of luxury vehicles runs counter to the principles of the Catholic Church to help the poor and needy.

“It’s shameful,” he said.

Cruz said the Catholic Church will initiate its own investigation and those found to have violated canon law may face dismissal from their missionary work.

The case will be reported to the Vatican for proper action, he added.

Cruz said it is not proper for Catholic Church officials to be sporting luxury vehicles while the people in their parishes and dioceses are suffering from poverty.

Those involved in the alleged anomalies will be given due process and Church protocol will be strictly observed during the investigation, he added.

Cruz said he will strongly recommend the return of the vehicles if they are indeed in the possession of those named in the PCSO report.

PCSO director Aleta Tolentino had confirmed the grant of 4x4 service vehicles for the dioceses of Butuan, North Cotabato, Sorsogon, and Iligan City.

In series of board resolutions in 2009, the former PCSO board approved the grant of two SUVs to Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, one for Rev. Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Monsignor Augusto Laban of Sorsogon and Fr. Roger Lood of the Parish of Iligan City.

The request of Lood was coursed through Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao who endorsed the letter to then President Gloria Arroyo on May 29, 2009.

The dispatch of two 4x4 vehicles toPueblos amounting to P1.7 million each was contained in board resolution 783, dated June 5, 2009 and resolution 328 dated March 12, 2009.

The PCSO Board approved the grant of two vehicles as service to the diocese of Butuan for the use of its various community programs in Caraga, especially the poor in far-flung areas in need of medical and health services.

Tolentino said the Commission on Audit (COA) reported that the grant of the five vehicles costing a total of P6.940 million violates the Constitution.

“No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied or employed directly or indirectly, for the use of, benefit or support to any sect, church, denomination… except when such priest, preacher or dignitary is assigned to the Armed Forces or to any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium,” she added, quoting the Constitution.

She said the PCSO’s mandate is specific on the medical needs of the poor, not on the purchase of SUVs.

“The PCSO can provide ambulances but not SUVs as service for religious activities,” she said.

The PCSO is coordinating with COA on how to deal with the release of the SUVs, which are now being used as service vehicles of the bishops and priest, Tolentino said.

Quevedo, Galido to cooperate in probe

Quevedo and Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido will cooperate in the Senate Blue Ribbon committee probe into the alleged granting of luxury vehicles to their parishes.

Quevedo said if called, he is willing to face any investigation of the Senate committee.

“But why should I go there, (why) should I be investigated when it is easy to find out from the PCSO. It should be the PCSO that should clarify the matter and name names.”

Galido said the Catholic Church and the bishops are open to any investigation.

“I think the government should act that way because it is a principle of accountability that is needed especially for the Church and the government,” he said.

“We always stand by that the truth will set us free, that is our policy. I think if (there would be) any investigation, the Senate or Congress investigation would be done objectively in order to come out with the truth.”

Speaking over Catholic Church Church-run Radio Veritas, Quevedo, Galido and Pueblos denied receiving vehicles from the PCSO.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, on the other hand, said Monsignor Laban is with the Archdiocese of Manila, not a member of the Sorsogon diocese.

“He is from Sorsogon but a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Manila,” he said.

“So, whatever he received I do not know because he is not under me at all. He belongs to the Archdiocese of Manila.”

In text messages, Pueblos said: “No Pajero from PCSO” and “Entirely false. My service is Pajero but not from PCSO.”

Quevedo said that he owns a Toyota Innova and uses a 4x4 (Strada) pickup truck whenever he has to visit the mountainous area of Cotabato.

Both vehicles were reportedly grants from the Archdiocese of Munich, Germany.

He does not have a Pajero.

“I have not received any cars from PCSO for personal use,” Quevedo said.

“I really do not know and it is easy for PCSO chairperson Margarita Juico to look into it, whether my name appeared as a beneficiary of the Montero or Pajero.”

However, Quevedo said since the allegations have already been publicized, the damage has been done.

“Even though she (Juico) says in the newspaper that there is still no real evidence about it and she’s been looking into it, and so it’s still very damaging and for me, my name was mentioned in one of the reports... I think PCSO has to look into itself and have a solid evidence for its allegation,” he said.

Galido said while Lood made a request for a vehicle, the Pajero has not yet been delivered.

“The vehicle was supposed to be used for the ‘Substance Abuse for Family Enlightenment’ program,” he said.

If the vehicle is delivered, he would not accept the SUV, he added.

Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III said yesterday he will invite the bishops in the first hearing on the alleged misuse of PCSO funds.

“Most likely we will ask them to comment and invite them if they want to come,” he said.

Guingona declined to comment on what should be done about the bishops.

However, he said that nobody is above the law.

“This will be no holds barred,” he said.

“The point is for the public to know what happened and who wasted government’s money.”

Guingona said the Blue Ribbon committee has received voluminous documents.

He found enough basis to merit an investigation, he added.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who filed the resolution to investigate the misuse of PCSO, said different vehicles have been given to the Catholic bishops, including Mitsubishi Pajeros and Ford Everests.

“No one is above the law,” he said. “Criminal liability applies even to bishops, and they can be charged in court.”

Lacson urged the CBCP to talk to the clergy concerned and let them come clean on the issue. — With Evelyn Macairan, Marvin Sy