The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday remained its neutral stance on the political crisis, although declaring it is not over for the " search for truth" behind president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's allegedly impeachable doings.

The CBCP expressed this attitude through a formal statement made on Tuesday afternoon, which was a product of five hours of close-door deliberation of the 12-man permanent council of the influential church authority.

The CBCP maintained that the country must move forward to address poverty and other pressing issues hounding Filipinos, but did not neglect the political bickering surrounding Arroyo.

"The search for truth must continue as provided for by the rule of law under the constitution," said the outgoing CBCP president Fernando Capalla.

The CBCP said that the people should decide for themselves though the decision must be accompanied with intensified prayers, calling for sobriety among Filipinos in these "trying times".

Earlier reports said the CBCP might change its mind of not calling for Arroyo's resignation.

However, the CBCP did not come up with an anticipated stand on the current political crisis and president Arroyo. The statement merely echoed what was stated in a CBCP letter dated July 10.

On July 10, two days after 10 former Cabinet secretaries resigned and demanded Arroyo's resignation, the CBCP made a statement saying that it did not demand Arroyo's stepdown over a political scandal.

The previous CBCP statement supported the creation of a "truth commission" or the filing of an impeachment complaint to pursue the case against the president.

The truth commission has not been established, while the opposition's efforts to impeach Arroyo in the House of Representatives were fruitless.

Arroyo has been accused of betrayal of public trust by controlling last year's elections. She denied the charge.

An unfavorable stance against Arroyo of the CBCP would serve as a crucial lever for the anti-Arroyo bloc, seen as a part of Philippine political tradition.

Source: Xinhua