Bishops call for end to GMA ‘persecution’

MANILA, Philippines - Five Catholic bishops called yesterday for an end to what they believe is the administration’s persecution of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

They made the call while celebrating Mass for the Pampanga lawmaker in her suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

Shortly after arriving at around 11:15 a.m., Archbishops Rolando Tirona of Nueva Caceres Naga, Nerio Odchimar of Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao, Cagayan; and Bishops Emilio Marquez of Lucena, and Ramon Villena of Nueva Vizcaya celebrated Mass.

Attending were Arroyo’s congressional staff led by lawyer Raul Lambino, and her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, and some of her grandchildren.

Lambino said bishops visited Arroyo to give her encouragement and help strengthen her faith to fight for truth and justice.

“They wanted to show their authentic friendship to someone who is suffering from sickness, and injustice, and to share their love and compassion to somebody who is being harassed and persecuted,” he said, quoting from the homily of the Mass.

Arroyo is detained at the VMMC on plunder charges.

Her lawyers have been petitioning the Sandiganbayan for bail on grounds that the evidence against her is weak.

Last week, some of her supporters held a prayer vigil   outside the VMMC to call on the Sandiganbayan to grant her bail.

Political and religious leaders, including former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, former vice president Noli de Castro, former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and the family of the late Vice President Salvador Laurel, have been seen visiting Arroyo at the VMMC and expressing their sympathy and support in the past weeks.