
Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines are to return sport utility vehicles (SUVs) received as gifts from government funds, an inquiry has heard.
Senators are investigating claims that illegal gifts bought with state lottery money were given to the bishops by the last government to win their support.
The bishops acknowledge accepting the cars but say they did so only to help poor people in remote communities.
More than 80% of Filipinos are Catholic and the clergy are highly influential.
At the Senate inquiry in Manila on Wednesday, bishops turned over four SUVs and said others were in the process of being returned.
The bishops apologised for any pain caused to their followers or the Church, but insisted the donations were only to help them reach isolated communities.
'Sincere sadness'"Even if it is not unlawful and even if it is not unconstitutional, we believe that it is important for us to clear everything in the air and return the vehicles," Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of the southern Cotabato diocese told the inquiry.
He expressed "sincere sadness" on behalf of the Church that many Catholics were "confused, disturbed and even scandalised".
The head of the Philippine state lottery, Margie Juico, earlier told the hearing that seven bishops received gifts during former President Gloria Arroyo's term in office.
Critics have accused Mrs Arroyo of using donations to try to secure the bishops' support. She stepped down last year after nine years in power.
Mrs Juico said an audit had showed that at least 6.9m pesos ($158,600; £98,300) in charity funds were used to buy vehicles at the request of several bishops.
Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, of southern Butuan city, admitted that he wrote to Mrs Arroyo to ask for a sport utility vehicle costing 1.7m pesos for his 66th birthday but said it was to help him reach remote areas on Mindanao Island.
He acknowledged that the move "was a lapse in judgment on my part" that has "cast a shadow of uncertainty on my dignity as a bishop and my moral ascendancy as a leader of the Catholic Church."
During the hearing, dozens of protesters held placards outside the Senate, some wearing bishops' frocks and cardboard replicas of SUVs around their waists.
"I need my SUV to reach moral high ground," one placard read.
hollister clothing store
ReplyDeleteed hardy clothing
hollister clothing
kate spade outlet
ugg boots outlet
ray ban glasses
cheap ray bans
coach factory outlet
mcm outlet
louis vuitton handbags
2016.12.1chenlixiang
louis vuitton outlet
ReplyDeletetrue religion jeans
coach outlet
pandora uk
ugg boots
true religion jeans
true religion outlet store
coach outlet
michael kors handbags
cheap ugg boots
20170119caiyan
ReplyDeleteشركة دار الصيانة
شركة جلى بلاط بجدة
شركة مكافحة حشرات بالباحة
شركة مكافحة حشرات بتبوك
شركة تنظيف بتبوك
giuseppe zanotti outlet
ReplyDeletepolo ralph lauren
celtics jerseys
raptors jerseys
hermes birkin
cheap jordans
michael kors outlet
adidas wings
coach outlet
michael kors wallets
chanyuan2018.07.14
Given article is very helpful and very useful for my admin, and pardon me permission to share articles here hopefully helped :
ReplyDeleteObat dompo
Obat kutil kelamin pria
Obat radang amandel tanpa operasi
Obat radang tenggorokan pada bayi
Obat benjolan di kepala
Obat pengapuran tulang lutut
Obat kencing berdarah
شركة شحن اثاث من المدينة لمصر
ReplyDeleteارخص شركة نقل اثاث بمكة ارخص شركة نقل اثاث بمكة
شركة نقل اثاث من جدة الى الدمام شركة نقل اثاث من جدة الى الدمام
شركة نقل اثاث من الرياض الى المدينة المنورة شركة نقل اثاث من الرياض الى المدينة المنورة
Adidas Yeezy
ReplyDeleteJordan 11
Jordan 4 Retro
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Pandora Jewelry Outlet
Jordan 9
Jordans 11
Air Max 270
Red Bottom Shoes
Rodney20181225
Air Jordan 11
ReplyDeletePandora Outlet
Kyrie Irving Shoes
Jordan Retro 11
Air Jordan 9
Pandora Outlet
Red Bottom Shoes For Women
Kyrie 3 Shoes
Air Jordan Retro 9
Latrice20190217
Pandora Jewelry
ReplyDeleteJordan Retro 11
Red Bottom Shoes For Women
Jordans 11
Air Jordan 11
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Pandora Outlet
Nike 270
Jordan 9
Red Bottom Shoes For Women
Ryan20190217
Yeezy boost 350 v2
ReplyDeleteAir Jordan
Kyrie Shoes
Jordan 9
Pandora Outlet
Red Bottom Shoes For Women
Jordan Retro 11
Air Max 270
Air Jordan 11
Rodney20190217
Red Bottom Shoes For Women
ReplyDeletePandora Jewelry
Pandora
Pandora Outlet
Jordan Retro 11
Air Max 270
Jordan 11
Kyrie Irving Shoes
Adidas Yeezy
Air Jordan Retro 11
Paul20190226
Red Bottom for Women
ReplyDeletePandora Jewelry Official Site
Jordan 4
Pandora Jewelry
Pandora Outlet
Jordan Retro 9
Red Bottom for Women
Jordans 11
Jordan 4 Retro
Latrice20190317
Yeezy boost
ReplyDeleteKyrie Irving Shoes
Pandora Charms
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Jordan 11
Jordan 4
Nike Air Max 270
Jordan 11
Jordan Retro 9
Rodney20190321
Yeezy boost 350 v2
ReplyDeletePandora Jewelry Outlet
Jordan 4
Kyrie Shoes
Pandora Jewelry
Air Jordan Retro 11
Pandora Jewelry Outlet
Air Jordan 4
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Latrice20190406
Air Jordan 11
ReplyDeleteJordan 9
Jordan 9
Jordan 11 For Sale
Air Jordan 4 Retro
Air Jordan
Air Max 270
Pandora Charms Outlet
Jordan Retro 11
Rodney20190412
ReplyDeleteنقل عفش بالدمام
شركة نقل عفش من الدمام الى الرياض
شركة غسيل خزانات بالدمام