MALACANANG yesterday said it supports the call by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines for communal prayer and soul searching to jumpstart moral renewal but rejected the call of some of them for mass actions.

"We support the Archbishop (Angel) Lagdameo call for communal prayer, soul searching and other community activities in accordance with the CBCP’s call last month for all sectors to collectively work for moral renewal to fight the age-old scourge of corruption," Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said while they respect the Church’s call, communal actions like street protests are premature.

Bunye said they are open to ideas to meet the members of the CBCP to clear what these "communal actions" entail but they are not initiating it at the moment.

He said that on Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz’ stand that these communal actions would include massing up similar to the previous people power, he feels that it is just the archbishop’s own interpretation "and ours is slightly different".

"Communal action precisely calls for circumspection, a consideration of all the facts and due regard for what will serve common good in the long term. Having said that, we humbly submit that, the proper venue for the determination of truth and justice lies in the courts not in the emotionally charged forum which is susceptible to grandstanding," he said.

The CBCP over the weekend cited the surfacing of Lozada and his admission of knowledge of irregularities surrounding the NBN-ZTE deal.

Lagdameo, the CBCP president, branded it as "courageous" adding that the "public confession may be considered a providential event."

"Only the truth, not lies and deceits, will set our country free. This truth challenges us now to communal action."

Deputy Palace spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo called on the public to be wary of people who may be riding on the issue to further their personal agenda.

"We just need to be careful and be aware that the issue is not taken advantage of by some in the opposition who have other political agenda and to always follow the rule of law," she said.

Fajardo said President Arroyo is affected by the allegations that her administration had a hand in the alleged irregularities surrounding the NBN-ZTE deal.

"Candidly, kahit siya ang Pangulo, ay tao din siya na may damdamin. Even if she goes around and focuses on her work, somehow affected siya by all that’s happening," she said.

Fajardo said that instead of allowing herself to be distracted from her work or to be defeated by all these allegations, the President opted to maintain a "business as usual" attitude.

Arroyo yesterday addressed the 8th e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Later she attended centennial celebration of the Pampanga High School in San Fernando.

She also inaugurated the ground-breaking in Mexico, Pampanga of the San Jose Malino-Anao bridge and the school building of the Pandaqui resettlement site.

She also met local government officials from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Batangas, Bataan and Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio. Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Ignacio "Dato" Arroyo were also present.

Mikey Arroyo, in an interview, said they are not worried that the President and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo are being dragged into the ZTE-NBN anomalies.

He said these allegations are all baseless and without evidence and "obviously politically motivated."

Trade Secretary Peter Favila said the business community is confident that the government would overcome the NBN-ZTE controversy.