Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines yesterday backed away from fresh moves to impeach Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, describing the process as an "unproductive political exercise."
Arroyo, who survived an impeachment attempt last year, faces a fresh bid when the legislature reopens in two weeks' time over allegations of election fraud, corruption and human rights abuses.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed its opinion in a pastoral letter. The impeachment complaint had been backed by one of its members, Bishop Deogracias Yniguez.
The group said that while it respects the opinion of those who filed the fresh impeachment complaint, the CBCP was "not inclined at the present moment to favor the impeachment process as the means for establishing the truth."
It said that unless the process is "guided by no other motive than genuine concern for the common good, impeachment will again serve as an unproductive political exercise dismaying citizens" as well as reinforcing their "negative perception of politicians" as a whole.
Bishop Yniguez has claimed Arroyo had lost the moral authority to lead the country.
"We are undoubtedly for the search of truth, therefore, in all sincerity, we respect the position of individuals or groups that wish to continue using the impeachment process to arrive at the truth," the 124-member CBCP said.
Arroyo publicly apologized last year for a "lapse in judgment" in calling an independent poll commissioner before Congress could proclaim the winner of the May 2004 vote. She denied any wrongdoing but the admission triggered resignations from 10 Cabinet members.
An impeachment bid however failed when her political opponents failed to get the required number of backers in a Congress dominated by Arroyo allies.
Meanwhile, the government has defeated groups plotting to topple Arroyo, her spokesman said yesterday after charges were filed against six military officers and two civilians arrested last week.
Authorities are now moving in to flush out remaining supporters of these groups before Arroyo's annual address to Congress this month, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.
"The operational capability of these power-grabbers has been crippled," he said in a statement, adding that the threat has abated.
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