The statement of the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) "augurs well for the nation " and "will greatly help" ease political tension in the Philippines, Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile said Monday.

In a statement, Enrile said that while he understood and respected the various positions taken by other groups, he believed that the country's long-term national interest was best served by "exhausting all available constitutional remedies before we resort to force to solve our political problems."

The Philippines' most influential Catholic organization Sunday afternoon said that they would not join the call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Enrile noted that the church's position was a step back from its former activist position and adopted "a very careful and cautious attitude toward the current political controversy in the country."

Enrile is then defense secretary of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos. He and then military vice chief of staff Fidel Ramos bolted from the Marcos camp in 1986 to denounce Marcos for cheating in the presidential snap election. They claimed Corazon Aquino had won.

Enrile and Ramos, along with Aquino and the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, led the first "people power" revolt to oust Marcos from power and install Mrs. Aquino to the presidency.

Source: Xinhua