Bayan-Panay respects CBCP position on impeachment
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay spokesperson Aurelio Bosque said the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP's) position not to back the impeachment complaints against President Arroyo would not in any way affect moves to impeach the president.
Bosque said despite the CBCP position there are other individual bishops who are pushing for Arroyo's impeachment and are being respected by the group.
"Ultimately, it is the people who will decide in the end. Impeachment could be nothing without the people's movement," Bosque said.
Bosque said they respect the position of the CBCP, but he stressed that the impeachment process is only one of the modes in order to ferret out the truth behind the numerous allegations hurled against the Arroyo presidency.
"The Arroyo administration has become callous that even the basic rights of the common people are now being curtailed," Bosque lamented.
He said impeachment, if only carried out fairly, could be one venue by which Arroyo could face the people and answer all the accusations against her.
"But the problem is that the congressmen can be bought by money and other favors from the administration," Bosque said.
"On our part we will continue going out in the streets and air our grievances," Bosque added.
Malacañang, on the other hand, welcomed the CBCP position on impeachment.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye in a statement said "we concur with the bishops that impeachment is not the way toward change and resolution in our current political concerns."
In a pastoral statement, the CBCP said it will "respect the position of individuals who wish to use the impeachment process" to seek the truth behind allegations of cheating hurled against President Arroyo.
"We are not inclined to favor the impeachment process," the group added until it is established that groups backing the impeachment complaints are driven "by a genuine concern for the common good."
It was the first time that the CBCP issued a stand on the impeachment process after Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez filed a complaint against the President.
Iñiguez, CBCP chairman for external affairs, filed the complaint on June 28. It not only raised the issue of Mrs. Arroyo's legitimacy but also allegations on the rash of political killings and corruption in the administration.
Iñiguez's complaint is one of several cases lodged against the President. The opposition has vowed to file another complaint when she delivers her State of the Nation Address on July 24.