Manila Archbishop says he won’t back Panlilio’s presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines — Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of the archdiocese of Manila has said he would never endorse any priest who would eye for public office for the 2010 elections. "Ayaw ko makialam diyan sapagkat pulitika yan [I don't want to interfere because that's politics]," Rosales said in reaction to the announcement of priest-turned-Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio that he is thinking about joining the presidential race in next year’s polls. Rosales made his comment in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas. A national broadsheet on Sunday reported that Panlilio made known his openness to run for the presidency after a supposed influx of support from people seeking an alternative to the country's traditional politics. Rosales blamed the country's political system for Panlilio's inclination to run for the highest office, saying that the kind of politics in the country has pushed people to desire for change. “Yan ay dahil na rin sa ang mga tao ay sawang-sawa na sa sistema [That (Panlilio’s decision) has come about because the people are fed up with current (political) system]," Rosales said. Aside from Rosales, Archbishop Osacar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese and Bishop Paciano Aniceto of Pampanga diocese cautioned Panlilio from aiming for the presidency. The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo had said earlier that the CBCP would not endorse any candidate in the coming polls. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV