Aquino too focused on Arroyo – bishop

Aquino too focused on Arroyo – bishop

Most. Rev. Arturo Bastes, SVD, DD
 (Bishop of Sorsogon)

The Aquino government is too focused on cleaning up after the Arroyo administration and not doing enough in uplifting the living conditions of the Filipinos, a Catholic bishop said.

Speaking to church-run Radyo Veritas, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes reminded the government that there are more pressing problems that need immediate action aside from issues hounding Arroyo.

“Mas maraming problema ang bansa na mas dapat i-hype at pagtuunan ng pansin kaysa kay Arroyo,” said Bastes who was a known critic of Arroyo during her term.

He said that among the problems that need the government’s attention are poor health and education services, extra-judicial killings, land reform, labor contractualization schemes, and mining and other environmental abuses.

“Ito ang mga social issues na may kinalaman sa pagpapaunlad sa buhay ng mga mahihirap,” said the Sorsogon prelate.

He, then, urged Malacañang to leave the Arroyo issue to the rightful government agency such as the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court.

“May tamang proseso at may tamang korte na magpapanagot kay GMA. Hayaan natin ang mga awtoridad ang gumawa nito,” opined Bastes.

Arroyo had been asking the government to allow her to go abroad for a medical treatment on her “rare” bone disease.

But Aquino, earlier this week, rejected Arroyo’s request amid concerns that she would no longer return to the country and escape her cases of plunder and electoral sabotage.

Aquino instead offered to bring into the country foreign medical experts to check on the former president, and now Pampanga lawmaker. [CBCPNews]