Estrada needs shock from God, says Vidal

CEBU — The only way President Estrada can mend his ways quickly enough to save the country is for God to shock him the way He did Saint Paul, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said.

Giving the first signs he may be starting to distance himself from the President, Vidal also said he may resort to issuing a more strongly worded statement against Mr. Estrada if the situation takes a turn for the worse.

Vidal recently issued a mildly worded pastoral letter that urged the public to give the embattled President a chance to change.

Mr. Estrada is being asked to resign amid allegations of taking millions of pesos in bribes from gambling lords, and a motion for impeachment against him is already up before Congress.

Shortly after releasing the letter, Vidal met Mr. Estrada behind closed doors, but a priest, Fr. Monico Catubig, who got the chance to talk to Vidal afterward, quoted the cardinal as saying the President was being stubborn and refuses to change.

Vidal refused to directly confirm the attribution.

"It will take sometime for him to change unless God shocks him the way He did Saint Paul," the cardinal said.

Vidal, who is known to be close to Mr. Estrada and is considered one of his spiritual advisers, instead said he is leaving it up to the President to change his ways and that he will be giving him that freedom.

Vidal met with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at his residence the other day, but Arroyo denied the visit was meant to solicit the support of the cardinal in the move to remove the President.

Without disclosing details of the meeting, Arroyo said the cardinal merely asked the once fractious opposition now united behind her to employ non-violent means of pressuring the President to step down.

"The cardinal is sober but very aware of the situation. He will be praying for my safety," was all Arroyo would say.

Vidal confirmed Arroyo did not ask for anything from him.

He did admit he fears for her safety, the Vice President being the constitutionally-mandated successor to Mr. Estrada.

"She is preparing herself for any eventuality. Anyone can be in danger, especially if you are the successor of the (incumbent) administration," Vidal said. — Freeman News Service