Q. 1: What can you say about the pronouncement of President Estrada last night?

A. A good number of people like me, expected much. But, honestly, I am sorry to say that it was poor in content and questionable in form.

Q.2. What do you mean by "poor in content"?

A. Again, it missed the key issue shich is the integrity, capability and credibility in the highest Office of the land.

The economy is in trouble because of the trouble in the presidency.
Asking others to resolve the economic distress is admission of incapable leadership and renouncing   accountability.

Making big promises again and simply issuing small orders fall short of responding to the key issue.

Q.3. Can the President not do anything right anymore?

A. Sure, he can and he should. Address directly the issue. Asnwer concretely the accusations. It is no longer enough nor satisfactory for him to simply say his conscience is clear.

Q.4. But he promises to do this after all the accusations are finished.

A. Answering after one is already deeply and well buried in serious, detailed and credible accusations will be both unwiese and futile.

Q.5. But he wants the proper forum to anser the accusations.

A. If Gov. Singson accuses him before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, he (the President) can answer there if he wants to. If Gov. Singson accusses him before the people, he can defend himself before them if he wishes to.

Q.6. What do you mean by saying the the pronouncement of the President was "quetionable in form"?

A. There were no less than three chiefs that spoke one after another: the Commander-in-Chief, the Chief of the Armed Forces, the Chief of Police!

Q.7.  What was wrong with that?

A. It was a wrong picture at the wrong time with the wrong subliminal message.

Q.8. Why was it so?

A. Imagine saying loudly on one hand that everything is in order and everybody is safe, and presenting clearly on the other hand no less than the theree higest officials in the countery all directly connected with the use of force and arms. What s disturbing image to impress upon civilians during their personal and family economic distress in a democratic country!

Q.9. Going to another matter, whast can you say about the statement of Cardinal Sin that is is all right to accept money even from Satan provided it is used for the poor?

A. The Cardinal cited a Saint as his source for saying that. And, honestly, he has all the right to follow what the Saing said.

But, personally I would rather follow what my poor unsaintly father kept hammering in my head since I was a child. He kept saying in so many words and in so many ways that never should I receive, much less ask for maney fomr dubious sources.

Q.10. Anything else you would like to say?

A. Yes. The CBCP called for a prayer day on 4 November, Saturday. In the Archdiocese, the day of prayer shall be bserved with the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass.

On 18 and 25 November, we shall have a "Sakbayan:Erap Resign!" caravans or "Sakay ng Bayan". And on 2 December, we shall have the "Dagup Pangasinan" (Kongreso ng Pangasinan). These are all intended to end oour natinal crisis legitimately and intelligently.