Bishops offer to return luxury cars

Manila, Philippines - Catholic bishops who received money from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to buy sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are willing to return the cars to the government, a church-run news agency said Thursday.

Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, who bought a P1.629-million Mitsubishi Montero from money given by the PCSO in 2009, is among the prelates willing to hand over the SUVs, according to CBCP News.

Pueblos, who is perceived to be close to then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had personally asked for a new vehicle from the Palace as a "birthday gift."

"I don't see any problem. I am riding a very old vehicle within the diocese itself. I could even ride yung mga small vehicle if it is necessary. It will not really be a problem," he said in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas.

He added that he is willing to face an ongoing Senate investigation into the alleged misuse of funds in the state lottery agency during the Arroyo administration.

He also accused the present administration of going after critics.

"Yes, I would even like to make a privilege speech in Senate," he said. "It's a character assassination what they did to me and because of this I have also in sort of to defend myself."

Another Church official, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, said he is willing to return a P1.225-million worth Mitsubishi Estrada his diocese bought using PCSO funds in 2009.

"If they want to get it, it's ready. We can return it to them," Jumoad said, as quoted by CBCP News.

Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez of Calookan and Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon said handing over the vehicles to the PCSO may finally end the controversy.

"Just return the vehicles to put an end to this issue. Not doing so will only fuel speculations," Iñiguez said.

"Return all these vehicles to PNoy (President Aquino). They’ll make it appear that the bishops personally used those vehicles when the bishops didn't," Bastes said.

Archbishops Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Romulo Valles of Zamboanga, Ernesto Salgado ofNueva Segovia, Bishops Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe, and Leopoldo Jaucian of Abra have yet to say if they will return their PCSO-funded vehicles.

'Bishops answer directly to Pope'

Meanwhile, a Catholic priest who is among the country's top legal minds said the controversy is complicated both for the government and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

In a blog post, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, JSD, said the issue "can turn out to be a very messy entanglement of state and religion."

"I can see that Church authorities will have to think very carefully how to handle the PCSO revelations," Bernas said.

"But I am not sure that the CBCP can command the bishops concerned what to do. Bishops answer directly to the Pope," he added.

Bernas, an amicus curiae of the Supreme Court and who was among those who helped draft the 1987 Constitution, said the question of separation of Church and state over the money given to the bishops cannot be answered by a simple yes or no.

While citing Article 6, Section 29 (2) of the constitution that bars government from giving public funds to support a specific religious sect or group, Bernas said ruling on previous legal cases depend on the purpose and uses of the government "gift."

He mentioned the case of Aglipay vs. Ruiz on use of government funds for the issuance of postage stamps commemorating the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress of the Catholic Church, as well as the expropriation of the birthplace of Felix Y. Manalo, the founder of the Iglesia ni Kristo, for the purpose of preserving it as a historical landmark.

He said the cash donation made by the PCSO under Arroyo must past 3 tests. "First, does the grant of aid have a primary 'secular legislative purpose?' Second, will the aid have principal effects which neither advance nor inhibit religion? Third, will the aid foster 'an excessive government entanglement with religion?'"

He said those looking to either affirm or debunk the legality of the cash gifts must look at the terms of the donations.

"We can find these from the records of the PCSO. The records will show," Bernas said.

"The people would want to know to what extent the gifts have actually been used for the declared purpose or if they have been used for other undeclared purposes such as advancing religion," he added.