MANILA, Philippines -- Officials of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines are divided over the statement of CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo and four others calling for “radical reforms” in government.
Bishop Nereo Odchimar of the Diocese of Tandag, CBCP vice president, said he had not been consulted on Lagdameo's statements.
"You know the pronouncement of Archbishop Lagdameo is his personal position, he does not speak in behalf of CBCP," Odchimar said in an interview with Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas Friday.
Odchimar, also a member of the CBCP permanent council, said it could have been easy for Lagdameo to consult him.
"Even if we are far from each other, we are now in a high tech mode because there is cellphone, e-mail, fax machine so I think it’s a clear indication na [that] he does not carry technically the voice of the CBCP," he said but added that he respected the opinion of his colleagues.
Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi of the Archdiocese of Caceres said in a text message to reporters that the call for change should not have been addressed to the government.
"The call for change could have better been directed to bishops. [We should] renounce special treatment, stop recommending aspirants to government position, asking favors from the President," said Legaspi.
But Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel agreed with Lagdameo in his call for reform in government, since corruption has become a “moral and social” cancer.
"Matagal na nga na sinasabi namin yan [We have been saying that for a long time]. Radical from Latin, Radix, root. Root of corruption is sin, personal and structural. Need for personal conversion and social transformation is now," he said in an interview over Radio Veritas.
On Tuesday, Lagdameo issued the joint statement with Pangasinan Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Bishops Socrates Villegas, Joel Baylon and Jose Sorra disputing the Arroyo administration’s claim of economic progress and denouncing government corruption.
Cruz even said there was a "higher authority" that would punish those who were corrupt in government.
Business leaders and government allies denounced the bishops’ calls, saying these statements were divisive and even seditious.
