Cruz vows to continue drive vs jueteng, abusive politicos

By Jennelyn Mondejar

DAGUPAN CITY – Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he would not run for president in 2010 but would definitely continue to keep watch over abusive politicians by getting more involved in socio-civic issues, after his third resignation letter was finally approved by Pope Benedict XVI the other day.

Cruz, a staunch critic of President Arroyo, said Wednesday he would re-gather his group fighting jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling and would form a pool of brilliant and prominent lawyers who would pursue erring government officials.

Cruz, who turns 75 on Nov. 17, chairs the Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (People’s Crusade AgainstJueteng) that denounces the illegal numbers game and its effects on lowly bettors as well as the corruption it fosters among government officials.

He said he will have more time now to focus on his advocacy, as he plans to revive the Krusada’sprovincial chapters.

This early, he said he has been receiving calls from people who have similar concerns for good governance.

“Definitely, I’m a Filipino citizen and a taxpayer so I can get more involved in national concerns,” he said.

Cruz said they are preparing a group to be composed of brilliant legal minds so they could prosecute government officials who they think are guilty of criminal or civil offenses.

“In short, they will not go scot-free,” he said. He said these lawyers will be compensated by their group only with “Hail Mary, with prayers, no money involved.”

“Because I’m sure the most immediate concern of the Philippines now and after this administration is the administration of justice,” he said.

“Matindi itong grupo (This will be a strong group),” he said, adding that they are eyeing some retired chief justices to join their advocacy.

Cruz led several rallies in his archdiocese against various issues hounding the government, especially against corruption, Charter change and jueteng, among others.

With his retirement, Cruz said many politicians would be happy because finally he would no longer be around to fight jueteng.

“But I don’t think my successor will let that go just like that. Ah, no, no, no. I think he is braver that I am,” he said.

He said he knows his successor in the archdiocese, Balanga, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, well because while the latter was known to be the right-hand man of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, he was the left-hand man.

Cruz said he has waited long for the approval of his resignation letter which he filed in 2001, 2004 and 2007, as he believes that elderly priests like him should take the backseat and let the young ones with new ideas and more energy take over.

He said it was only on Sept. 7 that he got a call from the apostolic nuncio that “my resignation has been confirmed and that my successor will be Bishop Socrates Villegas.”

He said his initial reaction was, “At last!”

With his retirement, Cruz said he wants to go on vacation where he would not do anything at all in Istanbul, Turkey, the only place in Asia where he has not gone to.

“As I told you earlier, my bags are packed, I’m ready to go,” he said, smiling.

The CBCPNews, official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said Pope Benedict XVI agreed to the request of Archbishop Cruz to retire.
He served as CBCP president for four years during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.

The 48-year-old Bishop Villegas, who had worked with the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, may become the country’s youngest archbishop.

Archbishop Cruz tendered his resignation in March 2007, saying he wanted younger bishops to lead his diocese.