PHILIPPINES: BISHOPS FEARED ARREST DURING STATE OF EMERGENCY

Mar. 03 (CWNews.com) - A leading Catholic prelate in the Philippines has disclosed that he feared arrest during a week-long state of emergency declared by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen, the former president of the Filipino bishops' conference, said that he had received a telephone warning that he and three other bishops would be arrested and charged with plotting against the Arroyo government.

President Arroyo declared a state of emergency on February 25, ending it on March 3. Her government, which had charged that military officers were conspiring with opposition leaders to topple the regime, banned public rallies and arrested dozens of critics during the week.

Archbishop Cruz has been critical of the Arroyo government, which has been battered in recent months by economic troubles and charges of corruption. The archbishop has called for a "relentless search for the truth" regarding charges of vote fraud in the 2004 elections, saying that the legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency "remains in doubt."

Click here to share this news story with a friend.

Terms of Use    Privacy Policy