Assumption Davao to Arroyo: We want the truth

MANILA, Philippines - The Assumption College of Davao on Friday said it was tired of her lies and asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to admit her failings. At the same time, Assumption Davao sought to distance itself from Assumption alumna, Mrs Arroyo. The position of the Assumption College of Davao was clarified by its president, Sr. Marietta Banayo, who added that “Assumptionists" are not pleased with Mrs. Arroyo’s disposition following the various controversies that hound her administration. "We would appreciate if Mrs. Arroyo will come out in public and admit her failings," said Banayo in a story posted Friday night on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website. She said they are only asking for accountability on the part of Mrs. Arroyo. "We are tired of her lies, we want the truth to come out," added Banayo. Banayo said that Assumption College in Davao is not a sister school of Assumption in Makati City where Mrs. Arroyo is an alumnae, belonging to class 1964. "Our school is separate and independent from that of Manila. The school in Manila is managed by the Religious Sisters of the Assumption while the school here in Davao is managed by the Missionary of the Assumption Sisters," she said. "The Missionary of the Assumption Sisters only have one school [in the Philippines] and that is in Davao. We have no plans of adding another school," she added. "It pained us a lot when some people would come to us and tell us what happened to Mrs. Arroyo who is a product of an Assumption school," she said. Banayo said that even if Mrs. Arroyo will be able to escape all the controversies that besieged her, she cannot flee from God's wrath at times when she will be held accountable. "You can tell a lie to Filipinos but you cannot tell a lie to God," Banayo said referring to Mrs. Arroyo. In the same report, She appealed to media to refrain from including the name "Assumption" in their reports, saying it is not proper to always draw the name of the school in news stories involving Arroyo. Banayo expressed disgust that some reporters would use Assumption alumna as referring to Mrs. Arroyo especially if the news pertains to her alleged graft and corrupt practices. According to Banayo, Assumption seeks to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and works for the young, the poor and the laity so that all may be leaven and agents of Christian social change. "We are reminding the President of those Christian values she learned in her Alma Mater. It is the thrust of the school to form Filipino Catholic Women Professionals who are women of faith and action attuned to the tension of our times, in love with freedom and inspired by Gospel values," she said. She said one of the general objectives of Assumption College is to form students of strong integral character imbued with social conscience, a firm knowledge of Gospel values and the moral law, with a commitment to build a society where there is more justice, peace, and solidarity. Banayo said that with the opening of the school year 2008-2009 they will also intensify their anti-graft-and-corrupt practices campaign which includes the call for Arroyo's resignation. According to her, they can only hope Arroyo is still aware of those values taught by the religious sisters. "We will inform our students on the issues plaguing the Arroyo government to heighten their social awareness," Banayo said. She also lamented on what she called as "desperate move" of the administration to cover-up the anomalies behind the NBN- ZTE Broadband deal and to silent whistleblower Jun Lozada. "In order to divert the public attention the government right away issued warning on the possible rice crisis that caused so much alarm among the people," she said. She also expressed disgust on the ostensibly drooping concern of the President to address the ancestral domain issue in the peace accord between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). "She talks much about development but she seems to forget the stalled peace talks in Mindanao," she said. - GMANews.TV