Noy won't apologize, but CBCP forgives

CALAMBA City, Laguna ,Philippines  – President Aquino yesterday rejected calls from some Roman Catholic bishops for him to apologize over the wrongful “Pajero bishop” label on seven prelates who were dragged into the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) fund mess for accepting cash donations for the purchase of vehicles.

“Iyung apology hindi ho klaro. Bakit ako mag a-apologize sa kanila (The demand for an apology is not clear. Why should I apologize to them?)” he asked. But Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, one of the bishops who demanded an apology, said he has already forgiven the President.

Aquino turned over some 50 housing units here to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Earlier, the PCSO revealed that seven bishops received funds from the PCSO for the purchase of expensive sport utility vehicles like Pajero. It turned out, not one of the vehicles bought using PCSO funds was a Pajero. The only SUV was a Mitsubishi Montero bought by Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos.

“Now, it’s PCSO and President Aquino’s time to apologize to the people. After what they have done, (PCSO chair Margarita) Juico’s resignation is the best apology. Maybe the entire board of PCSO should resign. (President) Noynoy has failed,” Bagaforo said in a message sent to Radio Veritas last Thursday.

“Hindi ho yata tama na kami pa ang mag-a-apologize (I think it’s not right that we’re the ones being asked to apologize),” Aquino said. But he stressed his administration has always been open to consultations with the church, particularly over key issues like the Reproductive Health bill.

He said the latest issue has not affected his administration’s cordial relations with the Church and that he is always willing to reach out to the bishops. 

The President clarified his administration was not picking a fight with the Catholic Church, and that the bishops only demanded an apology because they were indignant.

“Pasensya na po kayo ako po ay pinalaking Katoliko, pinalaki po akong gumalang sa nakakatanda sa akin. Karamihan po iyang obispo na iyan ay nakakatanda sa akin (I beg your pardon. I was raised a Catholic, and taught to respect elders),” Aquino told reporters when pressed for further comment.

“I know, you need more exciting news, like a confrontation with the bishops. But it’s not helping the country,” he told media.

Also yesterday, Aquino brushed aside suggestions to investigate the decision of Juico to hire public relations expert Dante Ang.

“I don’t have to investigate it. I will call the chairman and ask her if that is precisely the case,” he said, insisting that his job is to make sure that PCSO guarantees are honored by hospitals so that such agencies can perform their mandate of helping the poor.

“Their function is charity, that’s the first aspect. They should take good care of their clients which are those in need, and that is where I wanted to get back to solid financial footing,” Aquino said.

He lamented that around P3 billion in guarantees are no longer honored by government hospitals. “Why is it that advertising budget went beyond what the board authorized?” he asked.

“All of these are part and parcel of trying to get them on a solid financial footing to be able to address all of the needs of the indigents that were their primary responsibility,” he pointed out.

Forgiven

Even if President Aquino has not apologized, Bagaforo said he has forgiven the Chief Executive.

“We could not force people to say sorry. That is okay. He is forgiven,” he said.

Bagaforo earlier said there was an anti-Catholic Church campaign with the blessing of Aquino.

“Shall we just let this thing happened? Let’s make a stand for our faith,” he said last Thursday.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines secretary-general Monsignor Juanito Figura said that while he respects the sentiment of individual bishops, this does not reflect the stand of the CBCP.

“In the first place, these are personal statements of the individual bishops so I would not be able to speak on their behalf... The CBCP, as a conference, has not made any such call or it has even insinuated that such an apology is in order. Maybe that can be taken as an expression of their sentiment,” said Figura.

He preferred that the apology be freely given and not solicited.

When asked if the PCSO fund mess has strained the relationship of the CBCP with Aquino, Figura replied, “I don’t like to think of it that way, if there is an adversarial relationship between the Church or CBCP in particular and the administration.”

“The Catholic Church is from the spiritual and moral angle, while the government is from the social and other secular angle so it cannot be helped that there would be instances when there would be misunderstanding. It is not necessarily adversarial,” added Figura.

Sorry for what?

For Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., there’s no need for President Aquino to apologize.

“No need to apologize. Bishops should not have solicited in the first place,” Belmonte said.

Aside from Bagaforo, Bishops Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel, Elenito Galido of Iligan and Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon reportedly sought an apology from Aquino and the PCSO.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep. Sherwin Tugna suggested that the four “bishops practice what they preach in the pulpit” which is forgiveness.

“Let bygones be bygones. The Bible also said blessed are those who understand and are forgiving. In forgiving, the bishops will also help unite the nation, instead of dividing it,” Tugna said.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmerenciana de Jesus said “the bishops’ call displayed height of arrogance.”

“Instead of showing the virtue of righteousness, they showed arrogance,” she said.

Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said the bishops were diverting the issue, which was their acceptance of expensive vehicles and donations from the PCSO even if these were not Pajeros.

Senators Alan Cayetano and Francis Pangilinan also do not see any reason for Aquino to apologize.

“I think an apology by President Aquino and Juico is unnecessary. There had been an admission that there was a lapse of judgment and they saw it fit to return the vehicles. Why then should PNoy and Juico,” Pangilinan said.

Cayetano, for his part, appealed for more understanding from the bishops.

“If there was a reckless accusation, then there’s need to apologize,” Cayetano said.

Meanwhile, former senator Francisco Tatad urged Aquino to follow his mother’s footsteps and oppose the RH bill.

Tatad, chairman of the International Right to Live Federation, cited that the late President Cory Aquino strongly opposed the RH bill.

“I am calling on President Aquino to defend and protect the position of his mother to fight RH Bill,” Tatad said.

For his part, Abante challenged pro-RH bill and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman to a debate on the measure.

“Defend RH bill which will kill the unborn babies and I will defend the importance of life,” Abante said. With Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero, and Evelyn Macairan