Cory illness sidelines truth crusade
The fight for truth on allegations of rampant corruption in President Arroyo’s administration is expected to suffer a setback due to the health condition of former President Corazon Aquino, a senior Catholic bishop said yesterday.
Mrs. Aquino’s family announced the other day that the former leader was battling colon cancer.
Lingayen–Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a vocal critic of Mrs. Arroyo who has called for her ouster following the exposé on alleged anomalies in the government’s canceled $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal, however stressed that the campaign against corruption would continue.
“This will not be easy. I know it would be hard. But it (fight for truth) will not stop; it’s just getting started. I believe it will be sustained,” Cruz said in an interview over dzBB.
The archbishop said he would lead the Mass for Truth for NBN witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. on April 4 in his archdiocese in Pangasinan even if Mrs. Aquino will not attend.
Cruz also assured that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) would continue to support the search for truth on the NBN controversy.
The prelate said Catholic bishops “automatically” started praying for the recovery of Mrs. Aquino, 75, on learning about her condition.
“We don’t have to take it up. We already started praying for her. There will be no shortage of people who will pray for her,” he said.
Aquino became a vocal critic of Mrs. Arroyo following the exposé of Lozada on the NBN anomalies.
The former president has always been supportive of Lozada, organizing a nine-part Mass for Truth for the Senate key witness in the NBN deal.
In the Mass for Truth last Easter Sunday at
Organizers of the Mass for Truth from the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) said they would complete the novena despite Mrs. Aquino’s absence.
AMRSP chairperson Sister Mary John Mananzan said they believe the former leader would want them to continue with the three remaining Masses for Truth.
The nun added that they would include in prayers during the Mass the immediate recovery of Aquino, a moral crusader and devout Catholic. The next Mass for Truth will be held on Sunday at the
CBCP president and Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said: “I join her family and the rest of the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of former president Cory, our icon in democratic struggle.”
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales also assured Aquino and her family of his prayers, Peachy Yamsuan of the Archdiocese of Manila’s Office of Communications said.
“He (Rosales) said he’ll also ask all his priests to pray for her and her intentions,” she added.
Balanga,
Support for Mrs. Aquino has come from all walks of life.
“The whole country prays for her because at the crucial time in the country’s history, she stood for democracy and led the country to people power,” said a prominent Jesuit priest, Romeo Intengan.
After stepping down in 1992, Aquino has remained active in social and political causes.
Arroyo joined prayers for Aquino’s recovery as did ousted President Joseph Estrada, according to his spokesman Margaux Salcedo.
Aquino had originally backed Arroyo when she herself was swept to power in the country’s second “people power” revolt that toppled Estrada in 2001.
The President said she was saddened by news that Mrs. Aquino has been diagnosed with cancer.
“I am praying for her recovery and strength for her family,” Mrs. Arroyo said.
The President paid tribute to the Mrs. Aquino as the person behind the peaceful reformation of the country.
“We are saddened, all Filipinos, by the ailment of former President Aquino,” the President said in a statement read before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said that the condition of Mrs. Aquino is a concern for all Filipinos.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Francis Escudero said Aquino’s sickness will not deter other groups in the pursuit of truth over the NBN and other issues of corruption in the administration.
Pimentel said “the ailment of Cory Aquino will cause the protest movement to limp like a person still mobile, but hobbled by a pinched nerve.”
In an interview, Escudero said Aquino’s temporary absence in the political limelight will likely affect the ongoing political situation, but she will remain an inspiration for everyone.
Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the only son of Cory and Ninoy, said his mother is in control of everything, and she surrendered herself to God.
In an interview with GMA News television, the senator said his mother remains calm while everybody is worried about the former president’s medical condition. She is “calm, normal and smiling,” he said.
“I remember that during the time of coup d’ etat, everybody was tense, but my mom was very calm,” he said.
Being the only son, the senator said he is trying to be strong for the family in this difficult time.
Aquino said his mother started chemotherapy treatment last Monday night and the effect of the medication on her will be observed for two weeks.
Mrs. Aquino underwent her first chemotherapy session yesterday.
Kris Aquino-Yap told ABS-CBN chief correspondent Korina Sanchez that her mother’s first chemotherapy session went smoothly.
However, she said her mother had to undergo blood transfusion because of her low hemoglobin count.
She said doctors told them that it is only natural for a patient to feel weak after chemotherapy.
As advised by doctors, Kris said she cooked egg whites for her mother, a meal good for her condition.
Senator Aquino added that his mother did not undergo a major operation and that she was already allowed to continue therapy at home. Mrs. Aquino was discharged from hospital last Monday night.
The Aquino family thanked the public for showing concern and offering prayers for the speedy recovery of their mother.
Roman Catholic bishops and political leaders across the country offered prayers for the former president.
Aquino, who was in power from 1986 to 1992, has been having bouts of hypertension and showing signs of weakness since December.
She subsequently underwent medical examination and the results showed she had colon cancer.
After her husband, opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was gunned down at the
Amid accusations of fraud, the military brass mutinied and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators swept Aquino to power on
Marcos fled the country and died in
Malacañang also offered its prayers to Mrs. Aquino’s actress daughter Kris, who has reportedly suffered a miscarriage a day after the ailment of the former president was revealed to the public.
Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde said that Mrs. Arroyo is praying for Kris who campaigned for her in the 2004 elections. – with Christina Mendez, Marvin Sy, Reyma Buan-Deveza, AP
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