Sunday, July 3, 2011
THE government assured Sunday that it will not hesitate to reveal other questionable donations allegedly given to several religious groups amid controversy involving the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
"We are certain that if there are other questionable donations included in the 2008-2009 COA (Commission on Audit) report, [they] will be revealed by the PCSO," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in her weekly interview over government-run Radyo ng Bayan. The PCSO disclosed last week a series of board resolutions made in 2009 that gave two Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to Butuan City Bishop Juen de Dios Pueblos.
Reverend Orlando Quevedo from Cotabato, Monsignor Augusto Laban from Sorsogon, and Father Roger Lood of Iligan City also reportedly got vehicles.
These Church officials were believed to be members of the "Malacañang Diocese."
Quevedo, on a statement on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, however, denied asking for and receiving "any vehicle for (his) personal use, whether a Pajero or SUV or any other vehicle."
"In 2008, I, indeed, wrote a request to the PCSO for a vehicle to be used by our Social Action program, especially for our Community Based Health Program," he said, adding the request was granted but did not say what vehicle he received.
The grants have been assailed as irregular since government money cannot be spent for the benefit of a religious sect, denomination, or church.
PCSO Director Aleta Tolentino said the sweepstakes office can grant ambulances but not luxury vehicles.
Investigation
With this, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman urged President Benigno Aquino III to investigate the cash and sports-utility vehicles that the sweepstakes office allegedly gave members of the clergy to spare innocent priests.
Lagman, who has been at odds with the Church for sponsoring the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, said the issue of government gifts to priests "has shattered the moral ascendancy of the clergy."
"The varying defensive responses of the bishops: from contrived denials to deodorized admissions have aggravated their fragile position," he added.
"While the self-probe to be conducted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is welcomed, an independent investigation should be ordered by the President so that the guilty parties could be held accountable and the innocent clerics spared," he said.
Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, for his part, urged PCSO chairperson Margie Juico to identify other religious groups who have benefited from the administration of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Capalla said accusations against the "Pajero 7" are unfair, noting they are being targeted by the government because of the bishops' critical position on the controversial RH bill.
Valte insisted, however, that the Church's position on RH bill has nothing to do with the issue, adding the PCSO is not singling out the CBCP.
"It has nothing to do with the Church being critical of the RH bill. It has nothing to do with some of them being critical of the President," she said.
She pointed out that the report was merely based on the findings of COA, which is an agency independent from the Office of the President.
Valte added that they will leave it to the PCSO Board of Directors whether or not to ask the Pajero bishops to return the SUVs and other questionable donations to the PCSO.
"The PCSO has its own board. They are the ones who craft the policy within the legal framework and the mandate of PCSO. Whether they will ask these bishops to return or they will discontinue these donations, it's a policy question," the Palace official explained.
She said the decision to file criminal charges against the Pajero 7 should be deferred to the PCSO board.
Defense
Meanwhile, an official of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) defended the Pajero 7 bishops, insisting there is nothing wrong with the donations or grants they have received from any government agency.
Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual said funds coming from the PCSO are part of the "critical collaboration" between the government and the Church in serving the public.
"Church is still the best partner ng government sa common good," said Pascual over Church-run Radio Veritas.
He said this would only mean that whatever grants are given to the Church by the government is not meant for personal use of Church leaders.
"Whatever the donations either cash or in kind the Church leaders receive will always be for the benefit of the community, since Church leaders are stewards and not owners of what they received from public and private donors," said Pascual.
Caritas Manila is the lead agency for social services and development of the RCAM.
CBCP president Bishop Nereo Odchimar, for his part, admitted he owns a Mitsubishi Pajero but denied it comes from PCSO.
"I bought a second-hand, three-door Pajero at the amount of P200,000 from a private owner. It did not come from Malacañang. I bought it with my own personal money. I can show you the deed of absolute sale if you have doubts," said Odchimar.
The Tandag prelate said he used to be labeled as a member of the Malacañang Diocese due to his supposed "closeness" to Arroyo.
"Before, I was associated even in the media that I'm close to PGMA (former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)... That has to be qualified that I am close with GMA because protocol dictates that as the head of the diocese, whenever GMA with several government officials (are in Tandag). If I am there, I'm also with them because we have common constituents," he said.
The CBCP head added that whenever he "lobbies" with Arroyo, he does it for his group and not for personal reasons.
He said the Pajero scandal will be discussed in their next Plenary Assembly on July 8-9.
The Plenary Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the CBCP and convenes every January and July.
The 103rd Plenary Assembly is set to take place at the Pope Pius Catholic Center in Manila.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, has also scheduled hearings on the issue on Wednesday and Thursday next week.