BY GERARD NAVAL

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday shrugged off possible revocation of the tax privileges of the Catholic Church and all religious institutions that engage in politics as floated by Speaker Prospero Nograles.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP spokesman, said many of the dioceses do not avail of the tax exemption anyway, which he said has to be applied for.

"In fact, lahat ng mga religious nata-tax indirectly. Like si Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Pangasinan, nata-tax siya. Hinihingi pa naman permit para ma-exempt, hindi automatic. Siya (Cruz) hindi nag-ask and marami rin ibang diocese ang hindi nanghingi. Yung CBCP, hindi din exempted," Quitorio said.

Fr. Joe Dizon of Solidarity Philippines said the only reason they have the exemption is because it is provided by law.

"We don't find it (removing exemption) a problem. We preach good citizenship and if the law provides that we have to pay taxes, then, we have too. we are paying taxes. Basta anything provided by the law, we will agree," Dizon said.

The Church, its lands, and the institutions under its auspices such as schools and broadcast stations are tax-free.

Quitorio said in case Nograles really pushes for the taxing of religious institutions, it should need a constitutional amendment.

"(Changes in) tax exemption? Mangangailangan tayo ng pag-babago sa Saligang Batas," he said.

Dizon said he believes the idea is government retaliation to the growing opposition to the Arroyo administration which some members of the Catholic Church are spearheading.

"Huwag niya panakot sa amin iyan (taxation). As Jesus said, give to Caesar what is due to Caesar and give to God what is due to God. Taxation is due to Caesar pero at the same time, doon din dapat may accountability yung nakaupo sa government na yung karapatan nila mag-collect ng tax e dahil sa naglilingkod sila. Kung hindi sila naglilingkod ng maayos, wala sila karapatan mangolekta ng tax at karapatan ng mamamayan na hindi magbayad ng tax, which is civil disobedience. And that can be legitimate in a given time," the priest said.

Nograles on Wednesday said that in other countries like the United States, the Church is "stripped of its tax privileges" once it enters the political arena.

Nograles' statement was seen as a veiled threat to the Church following the call of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, for a "new brand of people power" amid fresh calls for President Arroyo's resignation.