INQUIRER Global Nation

MANILA — Several lawmakers slammed the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) soft stance on the brewing political crisis, but others lauded the bishops for their sobriety.

"It's a cop-out,'' Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson curtly said. "It's a case of see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil. They act blindly; they don't want to see. They're blind to the truth.''

The independent lawmaker said the CBCP's pastoral letter only "added to the confusion'' because the people tended to believe allegations of corruption and electoral fraud against the administration.

"In a sense, they don't want to lead. In the end, the military will make its move as an institution,'' he said at the Ayes and Nays press forum. "They should be the first to lead the flock; they should be the shepherd.''

In their statement, the CBCP denounced corruption at all levels of government, but decided against calling for President Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation, and issued a raft of recommendations to "uncover the truth,'' including the abolition of Executive Order 464. While several portions of EO 464 have been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Malacañang continues to use it as basis in governing executive branch officials who are to testify in congressional inquiries.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza called the CBCP position a "disappointment.''

"It's unfortunate that the CBCP seems to be deaf to the loud clamor of people for GMA to resign. The CBCP statement is a big disappointment. Is the CBCP compromising with evil?'' she said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said the CBCP statement neither bought time for the President nor took the sting out of the expected multi-faith rally n Makati City on Friday.

"The die is cast and there already is a critical mass for communal action, which can possibly lead to another People Power uprising. The CBCP statement, wanting as it is, can only add fuel to the fire,'' he said.

Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing and Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor praised the bishops for issuing a sober statement, which virtually doused "cold water'' on groups "agitating'' for a people power.

"This douses cold water on agitators,'' he said. /Inquirer