Bishop accused of libel posts P10,000 bail
By Tetch Torres, Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 13:12:00 05/14/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, accused of libel by employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), posted early Wednesday afternoon the P10,000 bail imposed on him by Judge Antonio Rosales of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 52.
Cruz, in a white barong Tagalog, arrived at Manila RTC past noon, accompanied by his lawyer, Estelito Mendoza.
He posted bail around 1 p.m.
The bishop smiled frequently and joked with journalists.
He said he was “confident” that the charges against him would be dismissed.
Asked where he got the money for his bail, Cruz said it did not come from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. When pressed, he replied: “Secret.”
On Tuesday, Cruz, learning that a warrant for his arrest had been issued by Rosales, called the bail set for his temporary liberty “cheap.”
Cruz’ arraignment on the charges has been set for 17.
The case stems from an article, "Sad and Saddening," in which Cruz said 20 Pagcor employees were made to work as "nothing more than pitiful GRO's [guest relations officers]" during a birthday party for First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in 2004.
The case was filed in court after the Department of Justice reversed the findings of the Manila Prosecutor's Office.
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