The CBCP has finally spoken “mea culpa” and apologized for its members who accepted and asked donations from gambling money. The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Bishop Nereo Odchimar, also said that the seven bishops involved were ready to “face the consequences” if they were found to have broken the law. “We express… our deep sorrow for the pain that the recent events have brought to you our beloved people,” Odchimar said in a statement. The scandal stems from accusations that then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo used state lottery funds to give the seven bishops 4WD vehicles and P8.38 million ($196,000) in cash between 2007 and 2010 to buy their support. The bishops have acknowledged accepting cars and cash but said they did so only to help the poor people in their communities. And while Odchimar emphasized again on Monday that the bishops had not admitted to any wrongdoing, they were prepared for sanctions. “We assure you that the bishops concerned are ready to accept responsibility for their action and to face the consequences if it would be proven unlawful, anomalous, and unconstitutional,” he said. He also conceded that the scandal had hurt the image of the church, one of the most influential institutions in the mainly Catholic Philippines. “We are saddened that many of you, especially the youth, the poor… have been confused because of the apparent inconsistency of our actions with our pastoral preaching,” Odchimar said.

Meanwhile, Presidential palace welcomes the Apology of the CBCP. Malacañang on Monday welcomed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ statement that bishops linked to the fund mess in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office were ready to accept responsibility if their actions were proven to be unlawful.
“It was expected of them to take a stand because several bishops are concerned. Now that they’ve spoken that they’re ready to accept the consequences, we will have to see what those will be in the unfolding of the investigation in the Senate,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

With all this issue about the Pajero Bishops, one thing is for sure, at least our bishops are not liars and they are man enough to admit what has been the cause of confusion and scandal. They were able to acknowledge and admit what they have done. And I agree, that although its not entirely a good thing to accept donations from gambling money, the intention behind is not malicious. I just don’t know about the intention of Butuan Bishop Jose De Dios Pueblos. Because If I was in his shoes, If I was the one who was celebrating my birthday, I won’t have the gall to even ask my sister or brother for a birthday gift.