Bishop thumbs down apology, says he prefers jail
“An apology is hypocrisy. Honestly, I don't think it is the right thing to do," Cruz said in response to a suggestion made by Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz is not keen on issuing an apology to the female Pagcor employees who had slapped him with a libel suit after he allegedly referred to them as “GROs” in a newspaper article four years ago.
“An apology is hypocrisy. Honestly, I don't think it is the right thing to do," Cruz said in response to a suggestion made by Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay that he should apologize to the female Pagcor employees that he allegedly maligned in his article.
Cruz, a vocal critic of the Arroyo administration, posted a P10,000 bail for his temporary freedom Wednesday, a day after the Manila regional trial court issued an arrest warrant against him.
Maintaining his innocence, the Pangasinan prelate said he was actually gearing up for jail but was only advised against it by his friend, lawyer Estelito Mendoza.
"I pictured myself in handcuffs and behind bars. That would be really a challenging picture for those who feel that I had been a victim of injustice," he said.
"It was like that for a moment or so until my friend Lawyer Estelito Mendoza called me up and said you cannot do that… that I will put others in trouble and that I was too old to go to jail," he added.
Cruz also said that although he was overwhelmed by the support he received from fellow bishops and from other groups when the arrest warrant was issued late Tuesday, he must to face the issue alone.
"Thanks for the expression of solidarity, but I hope other bishops will be left in peace because I am the one who entered this picture and let me suffer for it if needed," he said.
Last month, the DOJ filed libel charges against Cruz for "falsely and maliciously imputed to them (Pagcor employees) acts that have caused dishonor to, and besmirched their reputation as women when he described them in the said article."
The case stemmed from an article written by Cruz which saw print in several broadsheets on June 28, 2004.
In the article, Cruz allegedly said the complainants acted as "pitiful GROs" (guest relations officers) during the birthday party of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in 2004.
Cruz had earlier said he did not mean to offend the female Pagcor but was even trying to defend them against the way they were treated by Pagcor.
The prelate also said he sees the hands of Malacañang behind the filing of libel charges against him. - GMANews.TV
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz is not keen on issuing an apology to the female Pagcor employees who had slapped him with a libel suit after he allegedly referred to them as “GROs” in a newspaper article four years ago.
“An apology is hypocrisy. Honestly, I don't think it is the right thing to do," Cruz said in response to a suggestion made by Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay that he should apologize to the female Pagcor employees that he allegedly maligned in his article.
Cruz, a vocal critic of the Arroyo administration, posted a P10,000 bail for his temporary freedom Wednesday, a day after the Manila regional trial court issued an arrest warrant against him.
Maintaining his innocence, the Pangasinan prelate said he was actually gearing up for jail but was only advised against it by his friend, lawyer Estelito Mendoza.
"I pictured myself in handcuffs and behind bars. That would be really a challenging picture for those who feel that I had been a victim of injustice," he said.
"It was like that for a moment or so until my friend Lawyer Estelito Mendoza called me up and said you cannot do that… that I will put others in trouble and that I was too old to go to jail," he added.
Cruz also said that although he was overwhelmed by the support he received from fellow bishops and from other groups when the arrest warrant was issued late Tuesday, he must to face the issue alone.
"Thanks for the expression of solidarity, but I hope other bishops will be left in peace because I am the one who entered this picture and let me suffer for it if needed," he said.
Last month, the DOJ filed libel charges against Cruz for "falsely and maliciously imputed to them (Pagcor employees) acts that have caused dishonor to, and besmirched their reputation as women when he described them in the said article."
The case stemmed from an article written by Cruz which saw print in several broadsheets on June 28, 2004.
In the article, Cruz allegedly said the complainants acted as "pitiful GROs" (guest relations officers) during the birthday party of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in 2004.
Cruz had earlier said he did not mean to offend the female Pagcor but was even trying to defend them against the way they were treated by Pagcor.
The prelate also said he sees the hands of Malacañang behind the filing of libel charges against him. - GMANews.TV
Labels: bishop cruz, Mitos Magsaysay, zambales
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
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