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| 30 OCTOBER 2007 | ||
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| 30 OCTOBER 2007 | ||
| Joint statement of Bishops Diosdado A. Tamayan, Rodolfo F. Beltran, and Ramon B. Villena: The pardon of a former President and the Catholic Bishops |
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Lately, it has been more than just insinuated by
rumor-mongers that the Catholic bishops of the Philippines are a house
divided over the issue of the pardon of Former President Joseph Ejercito
Estrada.. We will not presume to speak for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines. It is a body-corporate with an administrative structure
by which it expresses by itself, and no single bishop can presume to speak
for all the bishops of the CBCP. Then too that bishops’ statements will not
be always easy to reconcile with each other is only to be expected. But the
bishops of the Philippines are now badly divided over the issue of the grant
of presidential pardon is, to us, pure canard. It is a matter of public knowledge that His Eminence, the Cardinal-Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, had joined other prominent citizens in asking for the pardon of the former President. He believed this to be the charitable thing to do. The desire for what is charitable can never be wrong; it always speaks highly of him who desires it for another! Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the incumbent president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has a different – not an opposed – concern: that of restorative justice. It is our position that there is no contradiction in these positions. It should also be noted that many who are exceedingly vociferous against the grant of the presidential pardon are averse to it not because they desire justice, but because they see in this another opportunity to strike at President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We wish to address some concerns: It is important that justice be done, and we respectfully submit that it has been done. It would have been injustice to have spared Mr. Estrada from prosecution and trial. But he has been prosecuted, detained and tried, tried and subsequently convicted. He has admitted his guilt by asking for presidential clemency. He is bound to restitute the items and properties decreed by the Sandiganbayan. Restorative justice does not mean only the restoration of society that has been injured by the misdeeds of one of its members, but also the restoration of the offender so that he many not be an outsider to his own community. We take it that the central message of our faith is that the Lord Jesus refused to ostracize anyone and came to inaugurate a kingdom to which all are invited! The question has been asked: Why pardon Erap and not all prisoners? It is obvious that it would be ridiculous to pardon all prisoners. It is obvious that it is ridiculous not to pardon Erap. It should be first made clear that who the President pardons, what kind of pardon to concede, what conditions, if any, to demand, are left completely to the discretion of the President by the Constitution. We suggest that we respect what the Constitution itself grants the President. What makes Former President Estrada different? First of all, he is a former president. Second, and more importantly, ever since his resignation from office and the assumption of President Macapagal-Arroyo to the Presidency, the country has been badly divided between those who remain loyal to him and those who support the present president. The grant of presidential pardon was therefore a courageous and commendable gesture at reconciliation. The nation cannot benefit from a badly divided people. The pardon of the Former President does not make a mockery of justice. A former president stood before a court of law and was found guilty of having committed the crime of plunder. The law was applied and the court has done what is its bounden duty to do: apply the law. For reasons of charity, at the instance of respectable persons, and in a gesture of reconciliation, President Macapagal-Arroyo exercises a power unquestionably granted her by Article VII of the Constitution. There are no provisions preventing her from pardoning the former president. Thus far, it has not been shown that she has abused her discretion. If the pardon of one person or some to the exclusion of others constitutes abuse of discretion then no pardon would be possible at all because the nature of presidential pardon is precisely selective on the basis of matters the president deems relevant to the grant of pardon. As bishops, we demand that justice be done. We are satisfied that the trial and conviction of former President Joseph Estrada has done just that. We also believe that he must restitute what must be restituted, as firmly as we believe that he must be given a chance to be a productive member of our society. We therefore respect the decision of the President to exercise a power unquestionably granted her by the fundamental law of the land, considering furthermore that the Constitution itself lays down no conditions that give us reason to doubt the legality or morality of the President’s act. We pray that this issue be laid to rest once and for all and that we make optimal use of the opportunity that this gesture of reconciliation has opened to the whole nation. Signed: Diosdado A. Talamayan, D.D. Archbishop of Tuguegarao Signed: Rodolfo F. Beltran, D.D. Bishop of Bontoc-Lagawe Signed: Ramon B. Villena, D.D. Bishop of Bayombong |
| 3 bishops belie rumors CBCP divided over the issue of granting pardon to Erap |
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The Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not divided over the issue of
granting pardon to former President Joseph Estrada. In fact, majority of the Catholic bishops are satisfied and respect President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to grant executive clemency to Estrada. In a joint statement, Tuguegarao Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe and Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong belied rumors that the CBCP is divided on the issue. The statement said the alleged division is more imaginary than real. The three bishops said that it is public knowledge that the CBCP welcomed the decision and even Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal had joined other prominent citizens in asking for the pardon of Estrada as a gesture of reconciliation. “Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the incumbent president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, has a different – not an opposed – concern: that of restorative justice. It is our position that there is no contradiction in these positions,” the bishops said. “It should also be noted that many who are exceedingly vociferous against the grant of the presidential pardon are averse to it not because they desire justice, but because they see in this another opportunity to strike at President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.” The bishops said that justice has been done with the former President having been tried, prosecuted and convicted. The bishops said Estrada has admitted his guilt by asking for presidential clemency and is bound to restitute the items and properties decreed by the Sandiganbayan. “Restorative justice does not mean only the restoration of society that has been injured by the misdeeds of one of its members, but also the restoration of the offender so that he may not be an outsider to his own community,” they said. Aside from being part of government policy of releasing convicts aged 70 years or above, the bishops said the grant of pardon was “a courageous and commendable gesture at reconciliation,” and added that “the nation cannot benefit from a badly divided people.” “As bishops, we demand that justice be done. We are satisfied that the trial and conviction of former President Joseph Estrada has done just that. We also believe that he must restitute what must be restituted, as firmly as we believe that he must be given a chance to be a productive member of our society,” they stressed. “We therefore respect the decision of the President to exercise a power unquestionably granted her by the fundamental law of the land, considering furthermore that the Constitution itself lays down no conditions that give us reason to doubt the legality or morality of the President’s act,” the bishops added. |
| PNP says women law enforcers can hack it,too |
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Women in uniform can fight
terrorists and lawless elements as well as men. This, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) showed convincingly in a demonstration that even earned the nod of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the PNP-SAF 3rd Battalion headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City this afternoon. During the presentation, selected women operatives demonstrated their skills in anti-terrorism drills to show that they are also capable of combating terrorists and lawless elements. Among the skills they showed was their ability in knife fighting kata (technique), sparring with knife deployment, police intervention techniques on rifle weapon retention and pistol weapon retention. They also showed the President techniques on how to overpower a suspected criminal and implement the proper arresting procedures on disarming and handcuffing. After the lady commando presentation, the operatives also demonstrated their skills on rapelling, confidence firing performed by the lady commando at the firing range, drill rescue, and team assault at the kill house for close quarter battle. The PNP-SAF presented to the President upon her arrival the well-trained and highly equipped eight-man SAF commando team which is capable of planning its own mission and modifying operations quickly. Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon and top officials of the SAF accompanied the President in the presentation. The Special Action Force (SAF) was created by former President Fidel V. Ramos on May 16, 1983 when he was still the chief of the defunct Philippine Constabulary. On her way back to Malacanang, the President made a surprise windshield inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to check the security and ensure the safety of the riding passengers headed to their provinces for the observance of All Saints’ Day. |
| Palace denies sending list of nominees to Comelec |
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Malacanang denied today
sending a list of nominees for vacant positions in the Commission on
Elections (Comelec), stressing that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could
only act on recommendations made by the Presidential Search Committee. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said it was "unlikely" the Palace would come up with a list and sound off to the Comelec on its possible choices to become election commissioners. "It should be the other way around. People submit names to us then the Office of the President acts on the recommendations," Ermita said during his weekly press conference at Malacanang. Ermita said this was the same process followed in the choice of justices of the Supreme Court, Armed Forces chief of staff, or Philippine National Police chief. Ermita said he has spoken
with acting Comelec Chairman Resurreccion Borra and clarified that the list,
which includes names of opposition politicians, did not come from his (Ermita’s)
office. There are currently two vacancies in the Comelec -- the seat vacated by resigned Chairman Benjamin Abalos and another position that has not been filled up even before the May 2007 elections. Borra’s and Election Commissioner Florentino Tuason’s retirement early next year would bring the total vacancies in the Comelec to four by February. Former Senators Wigberto Tañada and Rene Saguisag, former Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement lawyer Amado Valdez, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Comelec law chief Alioden Dalaig, lawyer Howard Calleja of the lawyers' group Lente, and Severo Maluenda were among those in the supposed list of nominees . |
| Ermita report on human rights situation in RP before U.N. pleases world body |
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Executive Secretary Eduardo
Ermita said today that his recent visit to the United States to report on
human rights situation in the Philippines before the United Nations has
given the world body a better perspective on political killings in the
country and on what the Philippine government has accomplished on the issue
since the visit of UN special rapporteur Philip Alston in February this
year. In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Ermita said this is good news for the Philippines especially when Alston submits his final report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in February next year. “I would like to think that we have made a dent with the United Nations especially come February when the complete report of Mr. Alston will be submitted. And hopefully between February and June the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva will be calling for a bigger meeting on the matter of human rights reports submitted by the different special rapporteurs,” Ermita said. Ermita said his report to the UN “somehow gave them a better outlook especially coming after the report of Alston.” He said Alston could even pay a second visit after considering the Philippines as a “good citizen.” “I am quite sure that with all these documents that we have given him there could be a very good reason for him to return. Especially because he specifically mentioned that the Philippines is considered a good citizen as far as human rights is concerned,” Ermita said. Ermita said Alston even reported that the Philippines is quite open to their investigations and the only country that invited the UN special rapporteur. Upon the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ermita left for the US and met with Alston and Louise Arbour, chairman of the UN High Commissioner’s Office on Human Rights last Oct. 24. Ermita gave an update to both of them especially to Alston who made a report on human rights violations to the UN last Friday on the 10 countries he visited. Ermita said Alston singled the Philippines as the first country he visited because the Philippine government extended an invitation while the other countries did not. Ermita said Alston also acknowledged his presence before the UN “which shows the interest that our President has for human rights advocacy.” In their meeting, Ermita said Alston indicated interest on the developments that the Philippine government has been doing to hasten the solution to cases on political killings. Ermita said he informed Alston and the UN that the President has come out with several directives after the preliminary report of the Melo Commission to strengthen the Witness Protection Program, create special courts with additional prosecutors, hasten trials and strengthen cooperation between government agencies, the police and prosecution to solve the cases of extrajudicial killings. Ermita said he also reported on the SC issuance of the Writ of Amparo as a result of the SC summit on Human Rights, including the President’s appointments last August of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon last Oct. 1. Ermita also informed Alston of the 77 cases now under investigation preparatory to the filing of cases in court, and instruction of DOJ to finish the cases within 60 days with an extension of not more than 30 days. “I also told them that the President was very, very emphatic during the LEDAC last August about the need for special legislation for harsher penalties for the commission of political killings, as well as harsher penalties for rogues in uniform. These are some of the things out of 28 special legislations that the President asked LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) last August,” Ermita said “Of the 77 cases I reported, they showed particular interest on cases involving military men or men uniform. I reported that six have been convicted and one of them involved an officer and two enlisted personnel and the others are civilians. This is the kind of monitoring that Mr. Alston was talking about,” Ermita said. Ermita said Alston was very happy to be given the opportunity to meet with just everybody, including the President, when he visited the Philippines. |
