Philippine church not demands resignation of Arroyo
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-07-10 20:24

The Philippines' most influential Catholic organization, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Sunday afternoon said that they would not jointhe call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,who is facing mounting pressure to give up her presidency for electoral fraud charge.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (L) attends a meeting with former president Fidel Ramos at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila July 9, 2005. [Reuters]

"In the present situation we believe that no single concrete option regarding President Macapagal-Arroyo can claim to be the only one demanded by the Gospel. Therefore, in a spirit of humanity and truth, we declare our prayerfully discerned collective decision that we do not demand her resignation," said astatement red by Archbishop Perrando Capalla.

Meanwhile, the CBCP demanded for a Truth Commission and "deeplydiscern what extent she (President Arroyo) has contributed to the erosion of public trust."

However, the mild attitude of the church is unlikely to stop the opposition's call for the president's resignation.

Soon after the church's statement, House of Representatives Minority Leader Fransis Escudaro said in an interview with the ABS-CBN news channel that they would still continue their peaceful call for Arroyo's stepdown.

"There is no other option at the moment. The resignation is resolution with the lest destruction to the political crisis," he said.

On the proposed establishment of a truth commission by the CBCPto investigate the electoral fraud charge against the president, Escudaro said that there is no introduction of such a commission from any provision of the Constitution and other laws.

However, he expressed no surprise to the church's "conservative reaction," saying that "it will not mind too much" to the opposition's stance.

In a separate interview, Professor Tony Gatmaitan, a political analyst in Manila, said that the weaker stance taken by the CBCP was a result from the internal severe division on the call for Arroyo's resignation.

"Finally, as a body, they chose not to take action against Arroyo, trying to avoid any firm position," Gatmaitan said.

He dismissed the possibilities that the opposition would easily give up their call to oust Arroyo, saying that "many of them are still convinced that President Arroyo is guilty."

"People are starting going out (for a street protest)," he added.

The Church has traditionally played a politically powerful role in this predominantly Catholic nation and was at the forefront of the popular revolts that put Aquino into power in 1986 and Arroyo in 2001.

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