CBCP backs bishop on libel case
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:40:00 05/14/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed its support to Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz who is the subject of a libel suit, its president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said on Wednesday.
In a statement released on the CBCP website, Lagdameo said the bishops were “rallying around” Cruz.
“We would like to express our solidarity with Archbishop Cruz,” Lagdameo added.
He also said that some bishops were demanding that a fair trial be given to Cruz.
CBCP is yet to meet on the case of Cruz, which stemmed from an article he wrote entitled, “Sad and Saddening.” In the article, Cruz alleged that 20 employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) 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 warrant of arrest was issued against Cruz on Tuesday by the Manila Prosecutor’s Office, which set bail at P10,000.
Cruz shrugged off the warrant and said that the bail was “cheap.”
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