Bishops hands off on impeachment

CEBU, Philippines - We’re busy with other things.

This, in a way, was how Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma explained why the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will not dip its fingers into the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Although the CBCP recognizes that the people expect them to make a stand on this most controversial issue in the country today, Palma, also CBCP president, said that they are not giving any statement on the matter.

“We are bishops and we have other things to attend to,” said Palma, who just came from Manila after attending the 104th Plenary Assembly of all the bishops in the country. He met with the media in Cebu during the 81st birthday celebration of his predecessor, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

The CBCP president said they gathered that time to make plans for the CBCP and not to discuss the impeachment.

Palma also believes the impeachment is a legal matter that should be left to the lawmakers.

“We are not lawyers to examine the proceedings and to assess whether it is dragging or not,” he stressed. “We should put our trust in the Senate. We should respect the institutional process,” Palma said.

He has earlier said that he trusts the way Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is presiding over the proceedings.

Palma instead exhorts the public to pray that the truth and justice may come out during the impeachment trial.

The CBCP president also has said they feel that there is no strong clamor from the people for them to issue a statement unlike before.

In the past assembly meetings, the CBCP has issued pastoral statements on national issues such as the “Hello, Garci” scandal as well as issues on mining, gambling and the controversial Reproductive Health Bill. – (FREEMAN)