President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's allies in Negros Occidental yesterday said that while they respect the opinion of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, they do not believe that the majority of Negrenses want her to step down.

Presidential brother-in-law, Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said if that is the position of the bishop, he cannot be convinced otherwise.

"The bishop is entitled to his opinion but I hope the good bishop remembers that there is such a thing as separation of the Church and state," Arroyo said.

I think he is wrong when he says that Negrenses want the president to step down because if he conducts a survey he will find out that there is a large majority of people in Negros who are still for the president, Arroyo said.

Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella yesterday said "We have always given respect to the opinion of our beloved bishop and he is entitled to that, but let us stop speaking in behalf of everybody else that will only cause more restiveness. It does not help."

"It is really up to the President if and when she wants to step down because she had the mandate of the people in the last election," he said.

"People are skeptical and apathetic about a change in leadership because of the uncertainty of who will come to power if Arroyo steps down," Puentevella pointed out.

"They are afraid a change in leadership will only put us in a deeper hole then the streets may be filled with blood over the power grabbing to be led by the left and the right, the Aqunio group , the Estrada group and last but not the least God-forbid a military junta," he said.

"The economy is perking up now and who knows, given the chance, we might be on the way to better times, but I can always be wrong," he said.

"There are still some people out there who may feel that she is still a safer choice for now," he said.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Ricardo Tan and Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, head of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, yesterday also said while the bishop is entitled to his own position they, too, do not think it is reflective of how the majority of Negrenses feel about the president.

On the call of the bishop for vigilance, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon said that, even without the recent declaration of Proclamation 1017, the citizenry should be vigilant all the time where actions of their public officials are concerned.

On fears that the rally tomorrow could be dispersed, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that he has always been for freedom of expression and since it is the Diocese of Bacolod, which is a respected group, holding the rally, "Let us listen to them, we are not curtailing freedom of expression."

Holding a rally at the Bacolod public plaza does not require a permit because it has been declared a Freedom Park, lawyer Andy Hagad said.

Felipe Levy Gelle, Bayan Negros secretary general, said Gabriela Negros has a permit for the use of the Bacolod plaza Wednesday afternoon which the church group will also use for its rally.*CPG

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