Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Wednesday welcomed the call of five Catholic church leaders for "radical reforms" but rejected "extra-constitutional change" of government.

 

Puno was responding to the calls made Tuesday by two Catholic archbishops and three bishops for immediate radical reforms and the preparation for a new government.

 

"Considering the problems of the country and everybody concedes the existence of these problems, I think the call for reforms is appropriate and should be taken in utmost good faith," Puno said in an ambush interview after the Catholic Mass Media Awards Wednesday night.

 

However, he rejected suggestions for extra-constitutional means of changing government, especially since national elections are just 19 months away.

 

“I do not think there ought to be an extra-constitutional change of government. In fact, by 2010, we shall be having an election so all calls for reform should be within the parameters of the existing Constitution,” said Puno.

 

Puno agreed that the judicial process against public officials facing graft and corruption charges should be hastened as he acknowledged the problem of corruption in the Arroyo government.

 

“It's a matter of perception but I like to think that you go by the surveys, our efforts leave much to be desired,” said Puno when asked if the machineries of government are working to stamp out corruption.

 

 

In a press conference Tuesday, five Catholic church leaders led by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Angel Lagdameo, condemned the unabated “top- to-bottom” corruption in government and asked the public to shake the status quo.

 

Lagdameo went as far as assuring the public that “liberators” may be just around the corner.

 

“In response to the global economic crisis and the pitiful state of our country, the time to rebuild our country economically, socially, politically, is now. The time to start radical reforms is now. The time for moral regeneration is now. The time to conquer complacency, cynicism and apathy to prove that we have matured from our political statements is now. The time to prepare a new government is now,” Lagdameo said in a forum organized by the CBCP.

 

Lagdameo added the public should not lose hope that changing the present system is futile. “In spite of the seemingly hopeless and negative prognosis, our liberation may yet serendipitously happen. We are dreaming, praying and hoping that our county may yet have the needed liberators.”

 

It is hoped that these “liberators,” Lagdameo said, “will in a courageous peaceful way effectively and uncompromisingly reform our country.”

 

Also present in the forum were Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon and Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra. We learned that seven more bishops would have attended the forum but cancelled for some reasons. -- with reports from RG CRUZ, ABS-CBN News; ARIES RUFO, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak