Archbishop posts bail in libel case

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), posted bail yesterday afternoon days after the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered his arrest due a libel case filed against him.

Cruz arrived at around 12:15 p.m. with his lawyer, Estelito Mendoza, at the Manila RTC Branch 52. Judge Antonio Rosales is handling Cruz’s libel case.

Cruz said he posted P10,000 bail in cash, but refused to say where he got the money. The court set his arraignment on June 17.

Mendoza said his case with Cruz is not pro bono “since I get interviewed also.” Cruz joked that it is not pro bono because “I have to pray for him.”

The Manila RTC issued last May 12 a warrant of arrest against Cruz in connection with a libel case filed against him after he accused the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. in a column of using its women employees to act as “guest relations officers” during a birthday party of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in 2004.

Meanwhile, Reps. Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales and Bienvenido Abante of Manila urged Cruz to be “man and humble enough” to apologize to the women employees, wo had filed the case against him for tarnishing their reputation. – Sandy Araneta, Delon Porcalla