'Manifesto war' divides Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines  – It’s manifesto versus manifesto. 

Priests and parishioners of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese have launched a signature campaign for a “statement of support” for retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz and “condemnation” of the provincial board’s pronouncement against his jueteng exposé in the province.

Fr. Oliver Mendoza, head of the archdiocesan Social Action Center and parish priest of San Fabian town, said the manifesto “is being signed by concerned citizens and parishioners of all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan where Cruz served for 18 years of dedicated ministry and service.”

Mendoza said he expects all priests in the archdiocese (there are 61 active priests here) to sign it as well, in support of Cruz’s advocacy to eradicate illegal gambling in the country, particularly in Pangasinan.

“We reiterate the position manifested by Archbishop Cruz that jueteng has been tolerated by local government units and the police in Pangasinan to operate and thrive over the past decades,” the statement read.

It added that the signatories “firmly believe that it was not, and is never the intention of Cruz to derail or impede the programs being touted by the provincial government but rather to enhance the capability and capacity of the leaders of our local government units and the police to perform their mandated roles with greater dignity worthy of emulation by our people.” 

The manifesto also decried the “attempt” of the provincial board members “to besmirch the unsullied integrity of Archbishop Cruz even as they wrongly accused him of ill motives for his attempt to rid the province of illegal gambling.”

Named were Vice Gov. Jose Calimlim and provincial board members Von Mark Mendoza, Jeremy Rosario, Teofilo Humilde Jr., Napoleon Fontelera Jr., Raul Sison, Generoso Tulagan Jr., Angel Baniqued, Danilo Uy, Clemente Arboleda Jr., Ranjit Shahani, Alfonso Bince Jr., Amadeo Espino, Kazel Celeste, and Isabel Villacorta.

“We vigorously denounce the named members of the provincial board for declaring Archbishop Cruz persona non grata, forgetting as they did what the Archbishop had done tirelessly to promote good governance in the province for the past two decades,” the manifesto read.

It also “strongly deplored” what it said was the attempt of the provincial board members “to paint Archbishop Cruz as an obstructionist in the implementation of the provincial government’s programs.”

Last Sept. 21, the board members themselves signed a manifesto expressing their indignation over what they described as “sweeping and unfounded accusations” against Gov. Amado Espino Jr. who Cruz tagged as among the country’s jueteng operators in a recent hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Espino vehemently denied Cruz’s accusations, saying that even when he was police director and second district congressman of the province and later as governor, he has consistently waged an all-out war on the       illegal numbers game, as evidenced by his orders to the police and the mayors.

Second district board member Von Mark Mendoza, who read the manifesto during an earlier press conference, told The STAR that some newsmen apparently got the wrong signal that they had declared Cruz persona no grata in their statement.

Part of the board members’ earlier manifesto read: “That it is our common sentiment that anybody who malevolently attempts to destroy the credibility of the governor and endeavors to divert his attention from excellently performing his task of steering the province toward progress and development should be declared persona non grata in the province of Pangasinan.”

Mendoza, who is not related to Fr. Mendoza, said they had discussed the priests’ manifesto against them “and we understand where they are coming from.”

He said they respect the priests’ opinion, adding that it was perhaps their differing point of view that led them to react that way. 

“It’s okay. We (board members) agreed not to talk about it anymore. Let it die a natural death,” he said.

“After all, jueteng has stopped in Pangasinan and we are just wasting our time, especially us, your board members (discussing about this illegal numbers game),” he added.

The board member said they would rather devote their time and efforts to more productive endeavors that would further propel Panga­sinan”s growth.

Meanwhile, Fr. Mendoza said they would furnish the board members a copy of their manifesto after a week.