Despite CBCP call, country remains divided

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) may have staved off calls for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but it has failed to register as much impact on the people as had been expected.

In the Bacolod Diocese, while members of the clergy were awaiting the arrival of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, we explained to them in detail the position of the Church prelates.

But Rev. Greg Patinio called for the President to resign immediately. It does not mean though that he was bucking the bishops’ call. The same is true for running priest Fr. Roberto Reyes who launched a fasting and prayer protest and even invited the bishops to join his group as he assailed them for their failure to keep in touch with the reality.

In Iloilo, the defection of Senate President Franklin Drilon and some Liberal Party stalwarts caused a split among the Ilonggos who had voted overwhelmingly for President Arroyo in the last presidential election.

Gov. Niel Tupas Saturday reportedly joined Drilon in calling for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation. He had earlier assured the President of his unwavering support. But it is common knowledge that Drilon helped him win the gubernatorial election.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, head of the 117 League of Cities, remained loyal to President Arroyo. Trenas bucked efforts to woo him over to the side that is calling for the President’s resignation side.

The impact of the Drilon defection, however, remains to be seen in Capiz, the bastion of Sen. Mar Roxas, who, according to Drilon, had cabled him his support for the LP position announced Saturday.

But the most surprising development was in Negros Occidental where the United Negros Alliance, headed by Rep. Carlos Cojuangco and Gov. Joseph Maranon, overwhelmingly showed their support for the President.

The same group, which composed most of the local officials of the province, solidly pledged their support to GMA.

The Lakas-CDM, led by Victorias City Mayor Simplicio Palanca, remained behind GMA though they remained silent in the face of the UNA announcement backing the President.

Another one was the announcement made by 2,300 sugar farmers of the Binalbagan-Isabela Planters Association (BIPA) of southern Negros that they are supporting President Arroyo.

The group unanimously endorsed the resolution by former Mayors Hemilo Aguilar of Hinigaran and Isabela Mayor Renato Malabor with a resolution declaring all-out support for GMA.

BIPA is headed by Enrique Montilla.

Earlier, the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. (CONFED), headed by Reynaldo Bantug, called for sobriety and batted for observance of the constitutional process in resolving the current debate.

The same attitude prevailed in Negros Oriental, according to sugarman Nonoy del Prado. He said majority of the local executives and Negros Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz are still backing GMA. He said this is especially true in the City of Bais.

Cebu also continued to hold on to GMA. So with the other Visayan provinces, especially Southern Leyte.

In Mindanao, despite militants taking the side of those calling for the President’s resignation, majority of the local executives are still behind GMA, especially Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte whose threat to secede from the republic in case of forcible ejection of President Arroyo was taken by Caraga.

A lot depends on the outcome of the July 13 "mammoth rally" the opposition is planning to mount to force resolution of the issue.

Well, the eventual outcome of the present political crisis will depend on the outcome of that planned demonstration. One thing certain though is that it will not reunite the country. At worst, it can fragmentize the Philippines into regional enclaves.

Recall petition

Former Mayor Luzviminda Valdez prepared to file yesterday the recall petition with the local Comelec office against incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Valdez claimed that they had gathered close to 50,000 signatures, or 10,000 more than the required 40,000 needed for a recall petition to get the Comelec nod.

This is 15 percent of the voting population. She also said that locals petitioners had complied with all the requirements. Another former mayor, Oscar Verdeflor, has joined the recall petition. While he has not publicly announced his position vis-à-vis the recall petition, the presence of several subalterns among those leading the recall petition supported speculations that former mayor Alfred Montelibano Jr. may also be behind the movement.

Leonardia, however, remained unfazed by the developments. Sunday, he celebrated his 53rd birth anniversary with a crowd of hundreds at the University of St. La Salle.

"It’s business as usual. I will work for the betterment of the city," he told local newsmen.

Former Mayor Amado Parreno also threw his support behind Leonardia, calling the recall movement "whimsical, and a capricious move."

In short, while GMA is fighting for political survival, Mayor Leonardia is also as beleaguered as she is on the local scene. This only shows the Filipino penchant for partisanship, be it on the national scene or in local politics.

This only boosts the call of the country’s bishops for moral rejuvenation and prayers for discernment. Unless we change, there will always be an obsession to pull down the winners.

In short, the fight for power is a continuing one.

Ombudsman

The Ombudsman of the Visayas has ordered a six-month suspension without pay for four Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bacolod District employees after it resolved that there was a prima facie case against them.

But Ombudsman Primo Miro also dropped from the case DPWH Bacolod District head Paulino Caberto Jr., who was included in the original complaint.

The charges were filed by Leandro Ruiz, who charged that the respondents had rigged the bidding of six contracts and ended up favoring certain contractors and suppliers.

The charge include allegations that the BAC did not state the date when the invitation to the bidding was prepared, nor the publication of the invitation to bid in the website as provided for under REA 9184.

Ruiz also charged that the BAC did not require the winning bidders to submit performance bonds and warranty securities, among other requirements, which only proves that the bureaucracy continues to function despite the quakes in the top echelons of the government.