Wikileaks’ US Embassy cable from Manila shows
By Raïssa Robles
A month after then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a State of National Emergency, following the arrest of Brig. Gen. Danny Lim and other army officers, her political adviser Gabriel Claudio met with American diplomat Joseph Novak.
In a cable dated March 22, 2006, US Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney filed this summary about Kovak’s meeting:
In light of recent political turbulence,President Arroyo has been reaching out to high-level members of the Catholic clergy in an effort to shore up support. Arroyo has also taken care not to cross the Church on two key issues: mining and population policy.
Kenney observed that –
Arroyo’s efforts appear to be bearing fruit: while a handful of bishops oppose her, the vast majority seem reluctant to be drawn into politics, a stance which effectively helps the president. Given its widespread influence (over 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholic), Arroyo will no doubt continue to work hard to maintain good links to the Church.
Kenny reported what Claudio told Novak:
¶5. (C) Claudio added that President Arroyo had also taken care not to cross the Church on two key issues: mining and population policy.
¶6. (C) With respect to population policy, Claudio said there was “little chance” that Malacanang would ever endorse HB 3773, a proposed bill in the House that its proponents say would set a comprehensive national policy on responsible parenthood and population management (ref A). Claudio noted that the president had not taken any position on the bill’s merits per se. That said, she knew that the bill was “controversial” and had “upset many in the Catholic Church whom the President did not want to offend.” She had no plans to block the bill, however, which already had a sizable number of co-signors in the House.
Kenney added that when Dr. Bernie Villegas, a population expert and the vice-president of the Opus Dei-run University of Asia and the Pacific, met with the US embassy’s political section chief, Villegas –
commented that he had heard there was “an informal understanding” between Malacanang and the Church that the GRP would not push for HB 3773 “under any circumstances.”
A separate cable – this time sent on July 15, 2005 from the US Embassy in Vatican City – confirmed that Vatican had given marching orders to the Philippine bishops not to join anti-Arroyo protests.
Brent Hardt, the US Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the Vatican wrote then that:
¶1. (C) Holy See Country Director for the Philippines Monsignor Luis Montemayor confirmed July 14 that the Vatican pressured the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) not to support protests calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Hardt, now the US ambassador to Guyana, added:
¶2. (C) Monsignor Luis Montemayor, Holy See Country Director for the Philippines, confirmed reports (ref b) that via the Holy See’s Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Antonio Franco, the Vatican had pressured the CBCP to remain neutral in the controversy surrounding President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He told us that although the Vatican’s preferences on the matter had never been a secret, Franco had for the first time on July 9 explained in no uncertain terms to the CBCP that the Vatican did not support popular uprisings as a method to remove a government. “We put a lot of pressure on the bishops” not to support the protests calling for the president’s resignation, he said, adding that the Vatican “insisted that the bishops distinguish between pastoral care and political involvement.”
In the light of the now raging controversy over the RH Bill, this stance by the Vatican raises some interesting questions.
Can Catholic bishops now reverse themselves and say it’s alright to call for the ouster of President Benigno Aquino III because he supports the passage of an RH Law?
If they do, could we suspect the Church motives then, that they had propped up the Arroyo government because Arroyo promised she would never allow the passage of an RH Law?
The bishops described their behavior during the Arroyo administration as “political neutrality.”
But even fence-sitting is an exercise of political power which the Church knows it has. The refusal to exercise political power is in itself a use of that power.
Fence-sitting is a political statement, as Ambassador Kenney herself rightly observed in the comment she attached at the end of her cable regarding Gabby Claudio’s revelations. Kenney concluded:
¶8. (C) Arroyo will no doubt continue to work hard to maintain good links with the Church, given its widespread influence (along with the military, the Church is probably the most important institution in the country). Both Marcos and Estrada got crosswise with the Church which backed successful “People Power” protests against them; Arroyo, however, has been careful to mind the store so that does not happen to her.
Which explains all the goodies that Malacañang Palace had extended to high Church officials.
The intense lobbying to curry Church support was done by no less than Mrs Arroyo. Kenney wrote what Monsignor Hernando Coronel told one of her embassy officers:
¶3. (C) The president has also had additional meetings with key figures in the Church. Monsignor Hernando Coronel, an assistant to Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of Manila, told Acting Pol/C on March 20 that she had held a private meeting with Rosales in early March. During the meeting, Arroyo had offered to fly to Rome with Rosales and his party in order to attend Rosales’ formal induction as a cardinal. Rosales had demurred, while expressing his appreciation to the president for the offer. Coronel commented that Rosales — who meant no disrespect to the president — did not want his “red hat” ceremonies in Rome to be linked in any way to politics back home.
Claudio confirmed Arroyo’s generous offer and disclosed that she was wooing other sectors:
¶4. (C) When asked about all of these contacts, Malacanang Political Adviser Gabby Claudio told Acting Pol/C that the president was aware that the State of National Emergency had been controversial. She had decided “to intensify” efforts to reach out to key sectors, including the Church, in order to explain her views and communicate her willingness to listen. Arroyo, Claudio asserted, was not doing this “out of weakness” — in fact, she felt her positioning with the Church as a whole was quite solid (see below). She also planned to meet with other sectors, such as the business community and groups from outside of Manila, down the line in order to solidify her position further.
It boggles the mind to think how much tax money was spent shoring up Arroyo.
Definitely, the non-passage of the RH Law was a serious casualty of that holy bargain that Arroyo struck with the Church.
I am reprinting in full below the two Embassy Cables I quoted from so you can read them yourself and make your own conclusions:
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001275
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, INR/B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI PINS EMIN RPSUBJECT: PRESIDENT ARROYO WORKS TO SHORE UP SUPPORT IN CATHOLIC CHURCH
REF: A. MANILA 1036
¶B. 05 MANILA 3946
MANILA 00001275 001.2 OF 002Classified By: Acting Pol/C Joseph L. Novak for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Summary: In light of recent political turbulence,President Arroyo has been reaching out to high-level members of the Catholic clergy in an effort to shore up support Arroyo has also taken care not to cross the Church on two key issues: mining and population policy. Arroyo’s efforts appear to be bearing fruit: while a handful of bishops oppose her, the vast majority seem reluctant to be drawn into politics, a stance which effectively helps the president. Given its idespread influence (over 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholic), Arroyo will no doubt continue to work hard to maintain good links to the Church. End Summary.
Reaching out to the Clergy
¶2. (C) In light of recent political turbulence, which included the imposition of a State of National Emergency from February 24 – March 3, President Arroyo has been reaching out to high-level members of the Catholic clergy in an effort to shore up support. On March 14, Arroyo met with Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in Cebu and joined in a celebration of Vidal’s 50th year as a priest. On March 16, Arroyo traveled to Nueva Vizcaya in northern Luzon to celebrate the birthday of local Bishop Ramon Villena. On March 17, she traveled to Sorsogon in southern Luzon to attend a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of a priest who had formerly served as the chaplain at Malacanang.
¶3. (C) The president has also had additional meetings with key figures in the Church. Monsignor Hernando Coronel, an assistant to Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of Manila, told Acting Pol/C on March 20 that she had held a private meeting with Rosales in early March. During the meeting, Arroyo had offered to fly to Rome with Rosales and his party in order to attend Rosales’ formal induction as a cardinal. Rosales haddemurred, while expressing his appreciation to the president for the offer. Coronel commented that Rosales — who meant no disrespect to the president — did not want his “red hat” ceremonies in Rome to be linked in any way to politics back home.
¶4. (C) When asked about all of these contacts, Malacanang Political Adviser Gabby Claudio told Acting Pol/C that the president was aware that the State of National Emergency had been controversial. She had decided “to intensify” efforts to reach out to key sectors, including the Church, in order to explain her views and communicate her willingness to listen. Arroyo, Claudio asserted, was not doing this “out of weakness” — in fact, she felt her positioning with the Church as a whole was quite solid (see below). She also planned to meet with other sectors, such as the business community and groups from outside of Manila, down the line in order to solidify her position further.
Mining, Population Policy
¶5. (C) Claudio added that President Arroyo had also taken care not to cross the Church on two key issues: mining and population policy. Regarding the first matter, President Arroyo, House Speaker Jose de Venecia and some other GRP officials had met with a handful of bishops representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on March 10 to discuss the Mining Act of 1995. (Note: After years of complex litigation by environmental activists, the Mining Act was ruled to be legal by the Supreme Court in ¶2004. End Note.) The bishops, Claudio continued, had expressed their long-standing view that the government needed to monitor implementation of the Mining Act more closely and not hesitate to withdraw mining permits where abuses related to the environment were occurring. Arroyo and de Venecia had carefully listened to the bishops and promised to continue to consult with them. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye announced on March 11 that the president was “sensitive to concerns about mining” and had ordered her administration to enforce environmental standards strictly. Claudio noted to Acting Pol/C that President Arroyo had no intention of placing a moratorium on the issuance of mining permits or revoking permits already issued, despite pressure to do just that by
social activists and the CBCP. (Note: In January, the CBCP reiterated its concerns about mining in a public statement, which called for the repeal of the Mining Act, among other items. End Note.)¶6. (C) With respect to population policy, Claudio said there was “little chance” that Malacanang would ever endorse HB 3773, a proposed bill in the House that its proponents say would set a comprehensive national policy on responsible parenthood and population management (ref A). Claudio noted that the president had not taken any position on the bill’s merits per se. That said, she knew that the bill was “controversial” and had “upset many in the Catholic Church whom the President did not want to offend.” She had no plans to block the bill, however, which already had a sizable number of co-signors in the House. In a March 21 discussion with Acting Pol/C, Dr. Bernie Villegas, a vice president and population expert at the Opus Dei-run University of Asia and the Pacific, commented that he had heard there was “an informal understanding” between Malacanang and the Church that the GRP would not push for HB 3773 “under any circumstances.”
Church Reluctant to Intervene
¶7. (C) Arroyo’s efforts appear to be bearing fruit. Most contacts agree that the vast majority of bishops are reluctant to be drawn into politics, a stance which effectively helps Arroyo. Coronel commented that this does not mean that bishops “necessarily support her,” though many see her as a very pious women who attends mass every day. Most bishops, however, feel that the Church needs to avoid getting involved directly in politics, a view in line with the pressures it is under from the Vatican which wants the Church worldwide to stick to spiritual issues (see ref B). Coronel acknowledged that there is a small cluster of bishops (probably five or so out of roughly 90 bishops nationally) who strongly oppose Arroyo, claiming that her administration is corrupt and “anti-poor.” One of her main detractors is Archbishop Oscar Cruz, an outspoken cleric with ties to the mainstream Opposition. Many in the Church — to no avail so far — want Cruz to stop making pronouncements on politics. Coronel added that Arroyo’s relatively solid positioning with the Church could change quickly if new scandals emerged.
Comment
¶8. (C) Arroyo will no doubt continue to work hard to maintain good links with the Church, given its widespread influence (along with the military, the Church is probably the most important institution in the country). Both Marcos and Estrada got crosswise with the Church which backed successful “People Power” protests against them; Arroyo, however, has been careful to mind the store so that does not happen to her. At this time, her positioning with the Church seems relatively solid, though — as noted by Coronel – any further scandals impacting on her or her administration (such as the “Hello Garci” tapes matter which rocked her administration last year) could change the status quo.
Visit Embassy Manila’s Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
You can also access this site through the State Department’s Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/Kenney
Here’s the one from the US Embassy in Vatican City:
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000500
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (JLEVIN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/15/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL SOCI RP VTSUBJECT: VATICAN CONFIRMS IT PRESSURED FILIPINO BISHOPS
REF: A) MANILA 00318; B) MANILA 3202; C) VATICAN 473; D) VATICAN 489
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, POL, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)Summary
¶1. (C) Holy See Country Director for the Philippines Monsignor Luis Montemayor confirmed July 14 that the Vatican pressured the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) not to support protests calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Montemayor noted that the recently-deceased Cardinal Jaime Sin had been an obstacle to the Vatican’s influence over the bishops, but that they were “now hearing our message.” With this episode, and the Holy See’s recent input on the involvement of Catholic bishops in protests in East Timor (ref c), the Vatican appears to be intent on communicating its preference that clergy focus on the pastoral rather than the political. End Summary.
Pastoral not Political
¶2. (C) Monsignor Luis Montemayor, Holy See Country Director for the Philippines, confirmed reports (ref b) that via the Holy See’s Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Antonio Franco, the Vatican had pressured the CBCP to remain neutral in the controversy surrounding President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He told us that although the Vatican’s preferences on the matter had never been a secret, Franco had for the first time on July 9 explained in no uncertain terms to the CBCP that the Vatican did not support popular uprisings as a method to remove a government. “We put a lot of pressure on the bishops” not to support the protests calling for the president’s resignation, he said, adding that the Vatican “insisted that the bishops distinguish between pastoral care and political involvement.”
Sin had Different View
¶3. (C) Montemayor, a former Department IVP recipient who has covered the Philippines since 2001, emphasized that he had always opposed Catholic clergy’s involvement in popular uprisings against the government. “In 2001, with the protests against Estrada, I pressured the bishops to stay neutral,” he said. “They wouldn’t listen to me.” Montemayor suspects that the bishops were not getting the message. Montemayor knew recently deceased Cardinal Jaime Sin very well, and said the prelate had been “a major obstacle.” “We didn’t see eye to eye on the issue [of political involvement by the clergy].” “Sin felt it was his moral responsibility towards the people to intervene,” Montemayor added, “but we must support democracy and due process. Otherwise we are opening Pandora’s box.” His comments tracked closely with ref (b)as he suggested that with the death of Cardinal Sin, the current bishops are more amenable to instruction from the Vatican.
Comment
¶4. (C) The Holy See is hesitant to get out in front of its bishops in opposing local political leaders (recent ref (d) conversations on Venezuela are a case in point), but the Vatican is also loath to see clergy take active political roles. In fact, the principle of avoiding direct political involvement is enshrined in canon law, even if not always followed. Unlike in matters of “faith and morals,” the Holy See’s control over local bishops on political matters is uneven. Montemayor added that in this case an additional difficulty in communicating the Holy See’s policy was the papal nuncio. Franco “acts like a father figure to the bishops, encouraging them even when they go the wrong way,” Montemayor said. In any case, with this episode and the Holy See’s recent input on the involvement of Catholic bishops in protests in East Timor (ref c), the Holy See has proven to be intent on communicating its preference that clergy focus on the pastoral rather than the political. End comment.
HARDT
NNNN
2005VATICA00500 – Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
__________________________
Related Stories
Wikileaks’ US Embassy cable confirms my 2006 exclusive story on the MILF
Msgr. Rosales leaned on Cory Aquino to make GMA resign, then left Cory
US envoy Christie Kenney’s view of PNoy changed over a cup of coffee
Wikileaks, US envoy to Thailand Kristie Kenney and her “ambassadorspeak”
rojan88 says
nice piece ma’am raissa. it saddened that those leaders from the church who should be guardians of “whole” morality are doing those tactics just to get what they want. now it’s very clear why GMA lasted that long. because vatican and bishops blindly worked with GMA because they are getting favors from her. when will be our society free from catholic pressure and when will be the catholic church be the real guardian of real morality. #yestosecularism.
raissa says
Thanks for reading, rojan88.
GMA will now be their knight in shining armor.
borrico says
This article just demonstrate that politicians make use of everything to further their own vested interests. They make use even moral issues to gain favor from religious leaders, strategic persons, who could be crucial in maintaining their hold to state power and other political gains.
This does not invalidate that contraception is a moral issue.
libertas says
wikileaks confirms what the world already knew.
– philippines is a lawless society
– democracy is a sham
– GMA & the Fat Guy are evil crooks
– cory aquino was a weak washerwoman, and certainly no icon of democracy!
– noynoy aquino is a mummy’s boy with no international respect, no vision, and no cojones
– mar roxas sold out the country for his own greed and ego
– the US rules through bribes and manipulation of uneducated politicians
– the jungle bunnies in senate & congress are a global joke
– the corrupt oligarchs, triads, and feudal families want no change
– there is a great envy of the west without the same style or values
– the country’s slogan is ‘give me some money’
Alan says
Funny, then, that you seem to be so obsessed by such a country. Why you’re always here mouthing off. Are you a Filipino trying to deny your own identity? Or, are you perhaps a foreigner who was thrown over by a Filipina girlfriend?
Rallie F. Cruz says
I cannot blame the Vatican on their stand against RH Bill and seeing them doing everything to keep it from being passed. What is amazing with it is the lesson learned from Marcos and Estrada by Arroyo not to cross the church in any of their issues and support with gifts they cannot refuse.
Having great control or association with the military is strong enough for any president of a small country to stay in power and keep protected almost forever, what more if major religions like the Catholics, Iglesia ni Kristo and Islam are given space for great considerations not withstanding another influential group of Christians (with the blessings of Catholic Church) called El Shaddai. All Arroyo needs is to put muzzles on our judiciary system and bribes over our lawmakers.
Just like the Marcoses and Estradas, they have to stay connected in the political arena so at least they can maintain some strength to keep them immune from allegations that may put the family from extinction as influential members of the society. Arroyo has learned a lot from them and may even end up greater since she did not waste time to be in congress for this purpose.
Mark Pere Madrona says
Miss Raissa, this particular cable confirms my observation two months ago about the so-called “Diocese of Malacanang.” It started six years ago when CBCP in a pastoral letter declined to call for President Arroyo’s resignation. Instead, they only urged her to form a Truth Commission (what happened with that?). This explains why throughout the remainder of her administration, she did all she can to appease these bishops.
Here’s the link to what I wrote:
http://rightonthemark.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/remembering-how-arroyos-diocese-of-malacanang-started-six-years-ago/
manuelbuencamino says
You are performing a great service by posting these cables. Keep on posting!
raissa says
Thanks for the encouragement. :)
nanie geronimo says
Julian Assange deserves our thanks for the release of these confidential cables, and no matter how much it now will expose sources to danger and even reprisal, the revelations put in context , which we all know, but has gotten a different perspective thanks to these data on how the government and its officials trivialized the destinies of the people and the country for the sake of political and personal interests.
I am simply outraged. The duplicity of the Church and its officials, the political viciousness of those who turned their backs on the aspirations of our people simply because they want to preserve their interests. They are major conspirators who misled, defrauded, betrayed and caused the Filipino to remain ignorant, poor, and assaulted at all levels.
Heaven forbid what other forms of horse trading are going on. But I am more hopeful that these acts are not copied and repeated. Otherwise, hopeless does not even quite describe it. We are probably doomed!
May araw din silang lahat!
raissa says
I am with you on this one.
Being outraged is a good thing.
Then take a breather.
Then be outraged again.
Thank you for being outraged.
http://twitter.com/#!/Rakehell_Obi says
SUV driving Damasos and they look to have ensured that GMA would not pass the RH Bill during her term.
How long before the Filipinos realise that they are enslaved by Oligarchs and a Theocracy? The CBCP don’t care how corrupt a regime can become, just as long as women keep giving birth in the slums. The more poor people, the more power they keep.
jorge bernas says
The more people regardless of rich or poor people, The more the Power, and The more the MONEY coming in the pocket of the PRIESTS & BISHOPS. Amen…