‘Coup, people power are not the answers’

The influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said yesterday the country’s problems will not be solved by real or imagined coup plots or a new people power uprising.

CBCP spokesman Monsignor Hernando Coronel said the episcopacy agreed with Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin that there was no moral cause for a new people power revolt, but warned it is closely watching the Arroyo administration.

In a statement carried out in full-page newspaper advertisements published 10 days before President Arroyo marks her first year in office, Sin said the current national situation is "far from ideal" and "needs a lot of improvement." But Sin also said a change in leadership would not be the solution.

Mrs. Arroyo herself admitted that the situation is not ideal but said that the challenge during her first year was "just to survive."

"Nobody is saying our situation is ideal," a seemingly annoyed President said in a radio interview. "Our challenge in this first year (was) not to be ideal but for our country to survive."

She complained that when she succeeded to the presidency on Jan. 20 last year, she inherited a huge budget deficit and a slowing global economy that was worsened by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the US.

"We should be thankful to the Lord that we were able to survive," she said, pledging that she would use this as a basis to engineer economic growth this year.

In his statement on Tuesday, Sin said the government has not really been given the chance to do its job because of politicking, criminality and persistent rumors of a coup attempt.

But most CBCP members believe that any coup attempt would only aggravate the already difficult national situation.

"I don’t think it (coup) will succeed," said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Teodoro Bacani, noting that politicking was one reason why such rumors continue to persist.

Bacani admitted that some politicians repeatedly air grievances and complaints to prelates and other Church officials but denied that they are seeking Church support for any coup plot.

Coronel also denied that Church people were aware of any coup plot and denied the claim of Philippine Consultative Assembly (PCA) spokeswoman Linda Montayre that they are supporting moves to mount another people power uprising.

"These are just rumors and allegations that are being used by other people to destabilize the government," Coronel said, stressing the CBCP’s position that the government should "reflect on its own" to prevent popular discontent.

The statement issued by Sin from the Archbishop’s Palace also roundly criticized Philippine politicians for lack of leadership.

"The problem is not only in the leadership. The problem is also in ourselves," he explained as he called on Mrs. Arroyo to give priority to the demands of the poor and the youth.

"We have one controversy after another taking up space in our dailies," he added, while pointing out that the Filipino people were already tired of the seemingly unending political controversies.

EDSA II "showcased the youth seeking renewal, challenging the adults to give them inspiring examples," he said.

EDSA III, on the other hand, "was the voice of the neglected and marginalized poor who felt that they were just being used and not given equal opportunities to be productive of society," the cardinal noted.

Instead of launching another people power revolt, Sin urged politicians and all Catholic faithful to help in the government’s efforts to address the needs of the poor and the youth.

He said concrete action must be taken to improve housing for the poor, quality education for the youth, and job opportunities for many jobless Filipinos. — With Marichu Villanueva