Bishops to attend on PCSO fund mess hearing

Catholic bishops are expected to attend Wednesday's hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee regarding on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund mess.

Those expected to give their testimonies are Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, Bontoc-Lagawe Bishop Rodolfo Beltran, Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles, and Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado.

Salgado, however, won't be able to attend the said hearing, he was reportedly out of town.

"I expect them to come and hear their side of the story. What happened and how all these happened," said Committee chair Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

He said that the senate will give the Bishops "an atmosphere of openness."

Guingona added, "The people have been watching the hearings and you can see if there is bias and the people are able to give their side. The mere fact that the bishops have chosen to come, this is the first venue wherein the bishops have agreed to come, is that not an indication of the fairness and transparency of the hearings?"

Meanwhile, PCSO chairperson Margarita Juico believed that it takes great courage, humility, and grace from the CBCP hierarchy to come up with a statement that acknowledged the mistakes and error in judgment made by some members of the clergy.

"The Church is an indispensible ally and partner of government in nation building," Juico said.

Earlier, The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines apologized for the "PCSO fund mess" which involved some of their bishops. — ARA