Manila, Philippines, Jun 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Former president of Manila, Corazon C. Aquino called the entire nation this week, to prayer over the scandal and political turmoil caused by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is charged with rigging last year’s election.
“Prayer and prayerful reflection”, the former Chief Executive said, “have never failed me or failed our country. It will not do so now. I repeat, without any embarrassment, my call for prayer and prayerful reflection so that in the days and weeks ahead the steps we take will be the right ones toward truth, justice and peace."
President Arroyo has taken steps recently to diffuse the turmoil surrounding her presidency including publicly apologizing for phoning an election official during last year's vote count, calling it a “lapse of judgment”, sending her corruption-tainted husband into exile, and removing a member of her cabinet accused of tax-evasion.
In a recent statement, Manila’s Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales added his voice to the debate saying, "despite expressions of regret, many remain angry, confused, hurt."