CATHOLIC BISHOPS SIDESTEP ISSUE OF WHETHER ARROYO

UNCLAS MANILA 003167

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/PMBS, EAP/PD, INR/EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL SOCI RP
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC BISHOPS SIDESTEP ISSUE OF WHETHER ARROYO
SHOULD RESIGN

REF: A. OPS CENTER - MANILA 07-10-05 TELCON


B. MANILA 3163

C. MANILA 3162

D. MANILA 3154


1. (U) Summary: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) sidestepped the issue of whether President
Arroyo should resign in their statement on the political
situation on July 10. On one hand, the group stated that it
did not demand her resignation, while on the other hand it
called on the President to examine the situation and to make
the best decision for the country. Amid mounting calls for
her to resign, the statement appears to have given Arroyo
some breathing room. End Summary.


2. (U) In a July 10 press conference, Archbishop Fernando
Capalla, outgoing President of the CBCP, read the group's
statement which stopped short of demanding the President's
resignation. The statement read, in part, "...in a spirit of
humility and truth, we declare our prayerfully discerned
collective decision that we do not demand her resignation."
The CBCP statement added that it did not "simply dismiss such
a call from others," however.


3. (U) The CBCP went on to state that "we would ask the
President to discern deeply to what extent she might have
contributed to the erosion of effective governance and
whether the erosion is so severe as to be irreversible. In
her heart she has to make the necessary decision for the sake
of the country." The bishops also stated that restoring
trust would require a thorough, credible, and independent
process to examine the recent scandals that have rocked
Malacanang.


4. (U) The CBCP praised the military and police for what it
said was their "loyalty to our Constitution" and the CBCP
rejected calls for "juntas or revolutionary councils." It
also rejected the use of violence and denounced groups who
were trying to "exploit our vulnerable national situation in
order to create confusion and social chaos."


5. (U) Comment: As reviewed in Reftels, Arroyo has faced
mounting calls to resign due to the recent scandals. The
much-awaited CBCP statement appears to have given her some
breathing room by not explicitly demanding her resignation.
Mission will continue to canvass reaction.

MUSSOMELI