Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez

 In an effort to calm down the political noise surrounding her presidency, President Arroyo has made a strong call for a political ceasefire.

"Our communities must pull together and set aside personal feuds and political differences," she said in November 6 speech in Subic.

This is a request for her opponents to stop political bickering and put the people ahead of personal interests.

The answer of an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is however: a resounding no.

The CBCP official said that it believes that to agree to the ceasefire would mean burying all anomalies hounding the Arroyo administration.

"I wouldn’t stop until something positive came out or produce by this administration," Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, CBCP Public Affairs Director, said.

The President said on Thursday during a visit to Subic that politicking will take the country nowhere, and she would rather choose to protect the poor instead of debating with her opponents.

"Some will opt to put politics and even obsolete ideology ahead of the people, but for us, we will continue to protect the poor and move the nation forward during this challenging time," Arroyo said Thursday in Subic.

But the CBCP wondered why the President chooses to keep silent on the controversial issues she needs to answer.

"I hope her love for country will really be awakened... for the better," Iñiguez said.

Iñiguez's statements followed those made by CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, who said Friday the Roman Catholic church's advocacy against alleged corruption in the government must persist.

Lagdameo, who spoke over Church-run Radio Veritas, said that what is needed is ceasefire instead of corruption currently plaguing not just in the government but in the society as a whole.

He said the uphill battle against corruption should continue and should not only be limited to government and political institutions.

And Iñiguez added, it’s "all over" in 2010 for any candidate who would be anointed by one of the most unpopular presidents in recent history. With a report from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News