Once again with feeling

It is good that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has not departed from its original position of not trying to rock the boat any further than it is already being rocked by forces as diverse as there are selfish interests to pursue but united only in their common goal of seeking the ouster of President Arroyo by whatever means.

Its latest position on the political crisis besetting the country, issued last Tuesday, has been to call on all Filipinos to move forward, although it threw in a sort of caveat by insisting that the search for truth must continue. But then, even the call for a continued search for truth is by itself ambiguous.

What is truth from the perspective of the bishops? Whose truth is it that Filipinos must continue to search? In a crisis similar to the political maelstrom that has beset the country ever since enemies of the president embarked on a concerted effort to dislodge her from her perch, there can be as many versions of the truth as there are people searching for it.

Hence, the position of the bishops does not say anything about its real stand. All that the position says is that it is a play-safe ploy given at a time when a position, any position, had been demanded from an entity of such perceived influence, even in such an incongruous arena as politics.

But the position is good enough for many people, especially those who, as the bishops at least correctly pointed out, want the country to move forward. For forward indeed we should all push ourselves. What transpired, and may well continue transpiring, had been a most tiresome distraction that was costly for many Filipinos in more ways than one.

Perhaps, the greatest beneficiary of the successive positions of the Philippine bishops had been President Arroyo herself. At the time the bishops were asked to make their position known the first time, Arroyo was clearly on the brink of collapse. Everybody was awaiting word on what the bishops would say.

At the time, it was really felt that the bishops' position would spell the difference between Arroyo staying put in Malacañang or getting ousted in an ignominious display of history repeating itself. When the bishops the first time did not support calls for Arroyo to step down, the tide immediately turned in favor of the president.

That, plus of course the timely but indirect support thrown the way of Arroyo by former president Fidel Ramos. Without the bishops and Ramos, it was getting clear the Philippines would probably have another president by now. But that was not meant to be at the time, and it is not likely to be now, or at least not just yet.

President Arroyo emerged from that phase of her crisis getting opportunity after opportunity to chip away at the armor of her very persistent enemies. The impeachment complaint against her was rejected overwhelmingly in Congress. Not long after that, she flew to New York and the United Nations where she displayed the very capability her enemies were sorely wanting in the last election.

Perhaps, because her enemies are that persistent, the bishops in the Philippines felt the need to issue another position in the aftermath of the impeachment imbroglio. But, discerning as they would love to proclaim themselves to be, the bishops still are bound to pursue the path of least resistance.

Even if they are in their hearts very wary of Arroyo, the bishops are discerning enough to see the evidence against her is far too short to shortchange the country on the question of leadership. To allow Arroyo to continue is by far still the best option for the country, never mind what the rabid opposition may say.

The position of the bishops, whether the original one or the reiteration made a few days ago, is in fact very consistent with what they have seen and anticipated prior to the controversial 2004 elections. The field open for the choice of Filipinos was not a very difficult field to draw a choice from.

Indeed, it is even a wonder why the church actually got derailed by the sheer intensity of the brickbats thrown Arroyo's way when it was clear it was mostly sound and fury, signifying almost nothing of substance. Other sectors with less interests to protect than the church actually stuck to their horses and prevailed.

The more resolute Filipinos did not have to go into soul-searching retreats for discernment just like what the bishops did. The more resolute Filipinos knew what was going on and did not have to make any ponderous pondering. It was as if everything was very clear to them and they knew precisely what to do.

But then again, in a country where things have become so unpredictable, and where individuals have given up their clout to institutions, no matter how seriously impaired, it is still a great source of morale to court and acquire the support or even just the concurrence of these very same institutions. Hence the church keeps its clout even if it also has to grope its way in the dark. Letter to the Editor - Guapa unta pero bungol

Guapa unta pero bungol (pretty woman but deaf) a Cebuano lingo. It's applicable to the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano, which was rejected by the Committee on Justice of the House of the Representatives on the ground that it is sufficient in form but lacking in substance.

It was an agonizing defeat for the opposition and a glorious victory for the Arroyo administration.

The complaint should have been checked and cross-checked to ensure that everything was in order and could withstand even the fury of Katrina, so to speak. It should have followed the line of thinking that if you fight, be sure to win. But the committee on justice of the House of the Representatives finds it sufficient in form but lacking in substance, hence rejected.

The last ditch effort for the anti Arroyo administration was to get the one third number of the members of the House of the Representatives which was an uphill climb and full of uncertainties.

In the plenary session, the House of Representatives voted 158 yes, 51 no and 6 abstained. Ang ubang representante ambot diin magsuroysuroy wa mopakita sa Kongreso.

But the opposition didn't make a sweet surrender. The fight is far from over and the question is, who will suffer from the continuous protest rallies now being conducted by the anti Arroyo administration?

Rally is a game of hit and run between the police and the rallyists.

Salcedo C. Gines
Bliss, Labangon
Cebu City