Guingona assures fair treatment of bishops at Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines—Expect no fireworks or nasty questions when Catholic bishops appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee on Wednesday to answer accusations they received funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the purchase luxury vehicles during the presidency of Glorial Macapagal-Arroyo.

Panel chair Sen. Teofisto Guingona III gave this assurance, noting that the prelates’ social and religious stature would be a major consideration in the conduct of his committee’s fact-finding investigation.

The blue ribbon committee is investigating allegations that previous officials of the PCSO were imprudent in the disbursement and spending of multi-million funds.

“We will be very respectful to church leaders … we assure them that an atmosphere of openness will prevail. We will let them tell their story,” Guingona said in an impromptu press conference Tuesday afternoon.

The blue ribbon chair also gave his word that other senators in the panel will not antagonize the bishops during their appearance.

Guingona’s promise apparently stems from the complaint of former PCSO chair Manuel Morato that members of the former board were not given fair treatment when they appeared before the panel last Thursday.

This after blue ribbon members trained their guns on former PCSO vice chair and general manager Rosario Uriarte, who failed to convince them that the P138 million intelligence funds spent just before the 2010 elections were used judiciously.

Morato complained the former board members were either cut short when they tried to explain their side, or were not given the chance to air it at all.

On Tuesday, however, Guingona said he has “utmost confidence in the propriety of my colleagues so there should be no reason why there should be antagonism.”

Blue ribbon panel member Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he is willing to have the bishops exempted from being put under oath.

“Being men of the cloth, we would suppose they would all tell the truth. So, if another member finds it is unnecessary, it’s fine with me. Especially after they were humble enough to say sorry to the public because of the issue generated by their vehicles, I will not even insist,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Guingona said he has received word that “most” of the seven bishops named as among those who used PCSO funds to purchase luxury vehicles are coming on Wednesday.

When asked specifically about Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, Guingona said: “I don’t know exactly (if he is coming), but most of them will be.”

“The fact that the bishops have chosen to come (as) this is the first venue where the religious leaders have agreed to come and air their side, is that not an indication of the fairness and transparency of the hearings?” Guingona noted.

Apart from Pueblos, other bishops who allegedly used PCSO funds to purchase luxury vehicles include Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Abra Bishop Leonardo Jaucian, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, Bontoc Bishop Rodolfo Beltran and Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Antolin Salgado.

Of the seven, Pueblos raised the most eyebrows when PCSO officials revealed a letter the prelate had supposedly written to Arroyo asking for a Mitsubishi Montero for his 66th birthday.

Despite the respectful treatment planned for the bishops, blue ribbon member Sen. Franklin Drilon said the prelates must still “be able to explain how the vehicles came into their possession.”

In the case of Pueblos, Drilon said his Montero received more public attention since it was asked as a gift, giving the perception that it was given as a personal favor.

“That’s why it really needs to be explained. The thing is, Bishop Dios Pueblos must be able to prove that the vehicle was not used for personal purposes. Rather, that it was used for medical or charity purposes like bringing sick people to the hospital.”

Lacson warned that the issue of the bishops’ luxury vehicles is just one aspect of the bigger controversy of PCSO fund misuse.

“The bishops’ vehicles are providing a convenient diversion. We must stick to the core issue of anomalies and corruption in the PCSO,” Lacson said.