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Manila: A Catholic bishop stood by his accusation that a government agency used women employees to entertain guests during the birthday party of the husband of President Gloria Arroyo in 2004.
Responding to a resolution of the justice department to file libel charges against him for defaming government workers, Archbishop Oscar Cruz said, "They [officials] are making me too big than I really am. They are giving me more importance than what I deserve."
Earlier, Cruz sent statements to several newspapers saying that 25 women workers at the government-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) were brought to Malacanang, the presidential palace, on the midnight of June 26, 2004 allegedly to entertain Arroyo's husband Jose Miguel, and his associates.
"I regretted the use of PAGCOR marketing assistants as if they were GROs [guest relations officers or entertainers]. I called on women's groups to come to the assistance of these (PAGCOR) women," Cruz had alleged.
The Manila Prosecutor's Office had earlier dismissed the government's complaint against Cruz.
But in a nine-page resolution, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez reversed the ruling and said, "The fact that the respondent sent via fax copies of the article to press ... negates respondent's alleged good intention [to help the women]."
Reckless
Cruz "acted with reckless disregard of whether the report was true or not. He did not conduct an inquiry on the veracity of the information he received," said the justice secretary.
In defence, PAGCOR marketing assistants said they wore decent dresses when they volunteered to serve as usherettes during the birthday party of Mr Arroyo.
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