CBCP slams Senate ‘circus’

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) blamed yesterday "inane behavior" at the Senate as one of the principal reasons for the apparent failure of the Arroyo administration to fulfill its promises.

Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, CBCP president, said the Senate has become an "embarrassing circus," where everything revolves around political maneuvering by its members.

"While there have been some questionable decisions involving policies, the inane behavior in the Senate has been the most frustrating for many," said Quevedo, who is the archbishop of Cotabato.

He pointed out that from the start, senators have been too preoccupied with committee assignments.

Quevedo lamented that senators make decisions based on political loyalties.

"The best interests of the nation require collaboration and cooperation, and yet the moratorium on political maneuvering and power games is simply ignored by the Senate," he said.

Former CBCP president Archbishop Oscar Cruz echoed similar sentiments, saying the President should not be the one to blame for the nation’s economic woes.

"One thing is certain, she (Mrs. Arroyo) is not the cause of the difficult socio-economic situation. While she has not completely solved the problem, she never authored it either," said Cruz, who is the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.

Quevedo said the problem of discontent can be attributed to the high level of popular expectation, which no government can hope to fulfill.

"After EDSA II, expectation was that after a year, the poor will be better off. But this is not happening, so there is great disillusionment," he explained.

The CBCP head said any substantive economic recovery, given the regional and global situation, will take at least five years.

"The best interests of the nation lie in patient work, cooperation and giving a chance for the new government to work," he said.

Quevedo also pointed out that sectoral groups, particularly those considered militant, have always had their own alternative political program and agenda, no matter what government is in power.

He said these groups come and go, but the leadership remains constant.

"Their game is adversarial through protests and agitation," he said. "This early, they are laying the groundwork for toppling the new government before 2004. What is disturbing is that there could be a confluence of disgruntled groups."

He advised the government to always decide for the common good, with a preferential option for the poor.

"It must also remove deadwood from its ranks and shelve even the high and the mighty," Quevedo said. "

He added that the Church will be critical in its support, "but will also be patient because it knows the road to political and economic recovery is long and arduous."

Poverty still to blame

Former First Lady now opposition Sen. Luisa Ejercito said yesterday the real cause of so-called destabilization efforts is the unchecked poverty among Filipinos.

"They find no cause to celebrate EDSA II because they remain mired in poverty and misery one year after President Joseph Estrada was forced to leave Malacañang," Ejercito said.

She said administration should work harder to fight poverty instead of focusing on destabilization plots and coup rumors "that exist only in their minds."

The senator noted that the incidence of poverty has increased under the new administration, with the number of poor families rising to 38 percent from 34 percent in 2000.

Ejercito pointed out that during her medical missions in the provinces, "the look of hope among the poor that she used to see has been replaced by frustration and misery."

"The government must see the restlessness and helplessness in the poor communities and urban slums. There is no cause for celebration. What we need is some soul searching and reflection on how we can alleviate the condition of the poor," she said. – With Aurea Calica