Aquino won’t apologize to bishops over SUV flap

Saturday, July 16, 2011
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will not apologize to Catholic bishops after a sweepstakes agency chief mistakenly identified the vehicles received by the priests as Pajeros.
“I am willing to apologize if I have done anything wrong,” the President said.
However, he said his administration is merely “correcting” the system in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), particularly the practice of giving vehicle donations to bishops.
“Hindi po yata tama na kami yung nagreport at ngayon binabantayan at nilalagay sa tama ang lahat ng sistema, kami pa ang mag-aapologize,” he said.
Aquino earlier pointed out that the Constitution prohibits allotment of public funds to any religious sector or affiliation because of the principle of separation of Church and state.
He cited Article 6 Section 29 (2) of the Constitution that states “no public money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid or employed, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian, institution or system of religion or of any priest, preacher, minister or other religious teacher or dignitary as such, except when such priest, preacher, minister or dignitary is assigned to the Armed Forces or to penal institution or government orphanage or leprosarium.”
Several Catholic bishops have been dragged to the controversy of accepting sports utility vehicles (SUVs) from the PCSO during the Arroyo administration after the Commission on Audit revealed it in a report.
Aquino stressed that his administration has no intention to fight the Church in light of the scandal.
“Sino ba ang nag-initiate ng controversy na ito, kami po ba? Sila ang sinundan ko…Yung apology hindi klaro bakit ako maga-apologize sa kanila,” the President said, saying the COA is an independent body.
At least four bishops sought apologies from both President Aquino and PCSO chairperson Margarita Juico for the “damage” resulting from the controversy.
Juico was criticized for saying the Catholic bishops received high-end Pajero vehicles but it turned out in the Senate hearing that none of the bishops had such vehicles.
However, the bishops turned over vehicles they got from the PCSO that include a Montero sport and some other SUVs but no Pajero.
“Tatanggapin ko na lang yung statement nila baka sa init ng ulo nung naibigkas pero yung palagay ko, yung mga naapektuhan alam nila na hindi namin sila inaaway. Alam nilang pwede pang pinalala ang sitwasyon kung yun ang pakay naming, pero hindi,” Aquino said.
Cotabato Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo also urged Juico and the PCSO board to resign for causing damage to the Catholic Church.
“Aquino has failed,” Bagaforo said.
“Pasensiya na po kayo. Ako ay pinalaking katoliko, pinalaking gumalang sa matanda sa akin at karamihan ng obispo na yan ay nakakatanda sa akin. Hindi mabuti siguro na alam ko kailangan nyo at mas nakakatuwang basahin sa peryodiko na nagtutunggali kami pero hindi nakakatulong sa bansa,” the President said in response to the bishops’ tirade.
Despite differences, Aquino still believed that the relationship of the government and the Church remains good, adding he is willing to talk to the prelates anytime. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/16/aquino-insists-raising-spratlys-issue-un-tribunal-167157

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