Protestant Church, groups pledge support to GMA

The Protestant church declared its support for President Arroyo and the administration, joining other religious sectors in appealing to the country’s political leaders to work together for the good of the nation.

Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) chairman Bishop Efraim Tendero said Arroyo’s critics should allow the President to finish her term and lead the country to progress.

"President Arroyo is guaranteed to stay until 2010. That is really her mandate," Tendero said during a forum at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday.

"Let us transcend political divisiveness and just try to work out something that is for the good of the nation. Kawawa na ang bayan (Pity our nation). Our peso is going strong again so let us not put off the economic gains with these political issues," Tendero stressed.

Tendero, a member of the presidential consultative commission (con-com) which proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution, made the appeal consistent with the position issued earlier by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The Iglesia ni Cristo and the El Shaddai Movement of Bro. Mike Velarde made similar appeals to Arroyo’s opponents to give the President a break.

Tendero believes the opposition, in its continued refusal to work with the administration, is only aggravating the people’s confusion and frustration.

"The opposition is focusing on the moral side when the issue at hand is really political," Tendero said.

"Of course, moral concern should be addressed but the main concern is political in nature and it has already been answered in the impeachment process," he pointed out.

The Protestant leader also downplayed resurging threats to end the Arroyo presidency following reports of a supposed plan of former President Fidel Ramos, a prominent member of the Protestant church, to reconcile with former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada and lead a transitional government to replace the administration.

Ramos, who has openly opposed the "no election" proposal of the con-com, reportedly met with opposition figures Senate President Franklin Drilon and former senator Vicente Sotto III, triggering rumors that he was withdrawing support from the Arroyo administration.

Ramos denied the rumors of possible reconciliation with the opposition, saying he only met with Drilon and Sotto "in trying to create a one, national Philippines."

Tendero admitted he had discussed the issue with Ramos in a recent meeting but refused to elaborate.

But he believes Ramos intentionally met with the opposition figures just to express his strong opposition to the con-com’s proposal to scrap the 2007 midterm elections and extend the terms of elected officials to pave the way for a parliamentary-federal form of government by 2010.

"Maybe he (Ramos) just wants to say that there have been so many destabilization efforts and having an election would be some sort of referendum for the current leadership," Tendero said.

The Protestant bishop was among the 19 con-com members who voted against the proposal to scrap the 2007 elections in its recommendations submitted to Malacañang last month.

Tendero said it is still best for the people to be given the opportunity to vote for their leaders.

He added the President, Vice President and 12 senators, whose terms all end in 2010, would not be affected by such proposal.

Tendero said the PCEC is also doing its part to help unite Filipinos by hosting a four-day festival for Franklin Graham, a preacher who followed in the footsteps of his father Billy and preached to millions of people in 33 American states and 17 other countries.

"We want people to recognize that hope is found in Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Jesus is the one who can give us that inward transformation that is necessary for our desired changes in society," he explained.

The festival, which aims "to gather Filipinos to hear the Gospel and be invited to respond, be disciplined and integrated in the local Church to worship and serve the Lord," will be held on Feb. 2 to 5 at the Rizal Park in Manila.