he presence of
Italian lawmaker Margherita Boniver should serve its purpose to facilitate the
release of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi who is being held by the extremist Abu Sayyaf.
Boniver was able to meet with President Arroyo and AFP chief Hermogenes Ebdane,
and was assured that the military is doing its utmost to find and obtain the
release of the Italian missionary priest. More than a thousand soldiers and 200
policemen are now in the rescue operation.
***
Unfortunately, acting defense secretary Norberto Gonzales
failed to act his role in the Bossi operations. He told Boniver (as quoted) that
"it will really take a long time (to resolve the Bossi case)." Also that
"there’s no quick fix to this problem, especially if we are trying to make sure
Bossi is released safely." Same as saying more than a thousand soldiers and 200
policemen can’t succeed. Gonzales should not give room for pessimism for what
his own men can do in the field. It’s worse when this pessimism is expressed to
those expecting success in the ongoing rescue operations.
***
In the House of Representatives, majority congressmen are
already eyeing plum positions in the 14th Congress. Rep. Neptali Gonzales
admitted to the press that he wants to be the majority leader although he will
settle for the post of senior deputy majority leader. It appears that incumbent
senior deputy majority leader Rep. Arthur Defensor will be majority leader.
Meanwhile Jose de Venecia has announced majority leader Rep. Prospero Nograles
will head the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments.
***
Cebu Cardinal Ricardo Vidal and Mike Velarde (through his
spokesman), that President Arroyo had insinuated her influence over the court in
its decision on former President Estrada’s plunder case. In fact the President
expressed the position that this case is for the court to decide. Not comforted
by these clarifications, however, former President Estrada said he would appeal
a guilty verdict rather than accept an outright executive clemency. An
indication that he continues to believe in a Palace-Sandiganbayan connection. We
can’t blame him, specially after ads came out appealing to the public to respect
the decision of the Sandiganbayan. The ads did no good.
***
Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz is receiving brickbats for his
appeal to the Holy Father to exclude the Philippines from his visit itinerary
this year. It appears that early this year, the CBCP had already given Pope
Benedict XVI an invitation to make a pastoral visit. A state visit would
necessarily prop up President Arroyo’s much criticized government.
***
Given the peace and order situation in the country, particularly the
incidents of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and the kidnapping of
Italian missionary priest Giancarlo Bossi, it does seem improper for the Pope to
make an unscheduled side-trip to the Philippines. The Pope can’t escape being
made an political tool, even if most of his bishops think otherwise. We believe
Archbishop Cruz is not being more popish than the Pope.
