Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Msgr. Rosales leaned on Cory Aquino to make GMA resign, then left Cory

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In Wikileaks cable, US envoy Kristie Kenney wrote how she met Cory Aquino

By Raïssa Robles

Oh boy, THAT really sucks big time.

Last month when I wrote a piece entitled Why the bishops can’t seem to get to first base with President Benigno Aquino, a reader named Karen Tañada wrote this comment:

Ask around further on events, it seems what angered former president Cory even more was that Rosales was among the bishops who earlier told her that Arroyo must go. Then when she made the call for Arroyo’s resignation, they were not behind her.

Well, Karen, here’s the proof of what you just said.

The former President Corazon Aquino herself told then US Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney that it was the Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Rosales who had put her up to the task of telling then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign.

Kenney visited Mrs Aquino for the first and only time on May 18, 2006 – or nine months after Cory Aquino did Archbishop Rosales’ bidding. And then let her hang out to dry.

Kenney promptly wrote a “confidential” cable to Washington about what Mrs Aquino told her:

She (Aquino) asserted that then-Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales and several former Arroyo cabinet officials approached her in mid-2005 and convinced her to go, reluctantly, to the palace to ask Arroyo to step down.

Kenney added:

She said that Archbishop Rosales was very firm in urging Arroyo to resign, but the President said practically nothing throughout the entire visit, and then abruptly excused herself to attend another meeting. Aquino expressed dismay that Rosales has taken a much softer public stance since then and speculated that his apparent about-face may have been due to pressure from the Papal Nuncio, who wants the bishops to keep a low profile on political issues (see
ref B).

Wow! And get this. Kristie Kenney then lectured Cory Aquino on democracy. The woman who lost her husband fighting for democracy and who bravely led the country out of the dark days of the dictatorship got a lecture on democracy.

Kenney wrote to Washington in her cable:

The Ambassador underscored the need to follow the democratic process in any effort to change the government.

To which Cory Aquino replied:

Aquino insisted that she has no intention to pursue any extra-constitutional actions or sow rebellion. She claimed that more and more average Filipinos support her opposition to the President.

What do I think of Kristie Kenney’s cables?

My media colleague Wilson Lee Flores and others in Facebook and Twitter have asked me what I think of Kristie Kenney’s controversial statements regarding Cory Aquino and her son, President Benigno Aquino III.

I believe Kenney had the total right to say anything about them.

But she should stand by them and own up to having said them.

As for the Catholic Church prelates

Going back to the Catholic Church, you know Fathers, the blessed nuns in the Catholic school I attended often told us that we should tell the truth. Perhaps the truth will set you all free.

Why not come clean on why you really supported Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo come hell or high water? The nation wants to know, especially your flock.

I’m reprinting below the Kenney cable detailing her meeting with Cory Aquino:

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 002111
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR RP

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S MAY 18 MEETING WITH FORMER PRESIDENT AQUINO
REF: A. MANILA 1275
¶B. 05 MANILA 3946
¶C. 05 MANILA 3154

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons

1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by the DCM, paid her first visit on former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino on May ¶18. Aquino talked warmly and nostalgically about her days in Malacanang before turning to the current political situation. She said that she still believes that President Arroyo and Vice President De Castro should step down for the good of the country. (Aquino first called on the President to resign in July 2005, at the height of a scandal over alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential elections – see ref C.) Such a move would put Senate President Franklin Drilon temporarily in charge until snap elections could be held to choose a new president and vice president to serve out the remainder of the term until 2010.

¶2. (C) Initially, Aquino insisted that she had no desire to get involved in politics again, stating she was much more interested in promoting micro-financing and livelihood assistance though a foundation she set up in honor of her late husband, Benigno Aquino, Jr. She asserted that then-Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales and several former Arroyo cabinet officials approached her in mid-2005 and convinced her to go, reluctantly, to the palace to ask Arroyo to step down. She said that Archbishop Rosales was very firm in urging Arroyo to resign, but the President said practically nothing throughout the entire visit, and then abruptly excused herself to attend another meeting. Aquino expressed dismay that Rosales has taken a much softer public stance since then and speculated that his apparent about-face may have been due to pressure from the Papal Nuncio, who wants the bishops to keep a low profile on political issues (see ref B).

¶3. (C) While admitting that President Arroyo has benefited from the Opposition’s lack of a clear leader, Aquino pointed out that the anti-Marcos opposition was in the same position after the death of her husband in 1983. She said she believed that if Arroyo were to step aside, a new leader would emerge.

¶4. (C) The Ambassador underscored the need to follow the democratic process in any effort to change the government. Aquino insisted that she has no intention to pursue any extra-constitutional actions or sow rebellion. She claimed that more and more average Filipinos support her opposition to the President.

__________________________

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Comments

  1. Msgr. Rosales leaned on CORY AQUINO to make GMA resign, Then left CORY? What a SHAME on ROSALES, Mayroon pa palang mga TRAIDOR at BALIMBING at ALAGAD nang Simbahan. Dagdag kahihiyan na naman ito sa aming membro SIMBAHAN.

    Parang isinalang nila sa GIYERA si CORY pagkatapos ay INIWAN…

  3. Telling the truth that will set one free was widely used by priests during the Spanish colonization that put many “insurrectos” behind bars if not firing squad. They even told the people that their words are safe within the walls of the church.
    So, what do you expect from the remnants of the false teachings.

  4. Why not ask the “real” Magdalo boys, as to who really supported, nurtured and hid them during the time that they went underground and also left them high and dry when they were captured. While these same people still remain in position and project an air of “innocence”, those they used like pawns have their careers in shambles, their families broken and their future hazy. They have emerged scathed & wounded but gained wisdom from their experience with their principles still intact. Are we now ready to hear their truth?

  5. Ex- US ambassador Kristie Kenney can say what she wanted, given that the cables she wrote were confidential. But her “don’t believe everything you read” remarks recently smacks of a character flaw. I just wished she’d never haunt us again.

    As for Cardinal Rosales, well, his character is more flawed. Hiding behind his priestly attire and spiritual office, he is user friendly. He claims he advances the church causes. But unlike Cardinal Sin, this bishop is spineless and dances the beat of his patron. His influence is incidental. His posturing is ceremonial. His relevance trivial. His mental dishonesty monumental. His stay in office detrimental.

  6. All, I mean all reports to someone, the question is who do these people reports to? All parties has its own agenda, Catholic Church, Office of the President, Uncle Sam, down to the local politicians. What is Tita Cory’s interest? Why did she answered the call of Rosales? There are so many what and why but at the end of the day using the same principle of Follow the Money, there we will see, touch and feel the puppet master pulling the strings or the guitar man strumming the strings.

  7. Kenney can make any assessment or have any opinion that she wants. It doesn’t make it true, but she’s free to have them. Of course, as ambassador, it is the US interests that she has in her sights, nothing more. Let’s be blunt, that’s what they do, to see how THEIR interests can be protected. (as do our ambassadors, though I think we don’t have the same clout)

    Thanks for this piece, Raissa. Yes, I’m very interested why the bishops stuck with GMA. As the self proclaimed “arbiters of morality”, it would behoove you to enlighten us, men of the cloth.

    • I totally agree with “A guy with a blog” and regarding your interest in knowing what the Bishop’s position with GMA, like the US Ambassador, his mission is to protect the interest of the church as an Organization headed by the Vatican more than the church they call every individual Catholic member ( as in you are the church).
      Maybe we should start counting the contributions given to them by the Arroyos including those that there were returned for obvious reasons.

  8. I think Rosales really wanted Arroyo to resign but he could not resist the Vatican order relayed through the Papal Nuncio and the gifts of Mammon through Medy Poblador.

  9. Kenney in this exposee is getting more unethical and have step further from her ambassadorial position. lecturing an icon of democracy is uncalled for like any republican who pretend to be what he or she is not.Anyway, the republican, was responsible in all the years that our people suffered under the yoke of the republican supported Marcos dictatorships, she was a wrong choice for the philippine assignment, she should have been sent to Kabul.

    • in fact, she should have been sent to Libya or whatever. Just because you’re an ambassador doesn’t mean you can go out there and make destructive criticism. napansin ko rin, i think she’s only after the mistakes of Pres. Cory Aquino and his son. she should be ashamed of herself for that behavior.

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