The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros yesterday said  the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines call  for President Gloria Arroyo to lead the campaign to combat corruption is “absurd” and “misleading”, while the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Negros urged Negrense solons not to be part of “big mafia” in Congress covering up for her.

The CBCP in a pastoral letter issued Tuesday did not call for the resignation of Arroyo but instead called on her and all branches of government “to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found.”

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, despite repeated attempts by the DAILY STAR, could not be reached for comment on the pastoral letter. Several Negros priests, who asked not be identified, said they had hoped for a call for the president to resign and were frustrated with the CBCP position.

Bayan Negros secretary general Felipe Levy Gelle said Arroyo “capitalized on the conservatism of most Catholic bishops, neutralized with gifts and projects, or simply don’t want to engage being busy with parochial concerns.”

The CBCP position will not dampen BAYAN’s resolve to continue to call for the resignation or ouster of the president, he said.

“The people are the makers of history and not the bishops.  Negros is lucky to have Bishop Navarra who marches with the people,” Gelle said.

Arroyo has long lost the moral ascendancy to lead the fight against corruption in government, Gelle said.

KMU Negros spokesman Ronald Ian Evidente said they call on Negrense congressmen, especially Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, to keep their distance from the Arroyo family so that the truth can come out.

“If they continue to conspire and be part of the big cover-up, they are contributing to divide the people,” he said. 

The continued support of congressmen for Arroyo by killing  the impeachment complaint against her and launching parallel rallies in Metro Manila and other regions is a “desperate move and artificial popular support” not of the people but of politicians benefiting from the  Malacañang mafia, Evidente claimed.

“Puentevella must join his constituents’ call for truth and Arroyo’s accountability. He must keep distance from the Malacañang mafia because his people thirst for truth,” Evidente added.

Puentevella, when reached for comment, said “There is a reason for everything under heaven…damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

KMU will be launching a signature campaign among Negrense workers calling for Arroyo’s resignation to be submitted to members of Congress, he said.*CPG

back to top