Arrest warrant issued for Catholic archbishop

Manila: A Manila court has issued an arrest warrant against a controversial Catholic archbishop who was charged with libel for his derogatory statements against female government officials who had attended a birthday party for President Gloria Arroyo's husband in 2004.

Judge Antonio Rosales of the Manila Regional Trial Court issued the arrest warrant against Archbishop Oscar Cruz, but recommended a bail for 10,000 peso (Dh909).

Cruz, a vocal critic of Arroyo, said he was being persecuted by Malacañang, the presidential palace.

"The justice department wants to silence me," Cruz said in a TV interview.

The case stemmed from an article which Cruz had written and was printed in several newspapers on June 28, 2004.

He claimed that the women workers of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) were like "pitiful GROs" (guest relations officers, a euphemism for cheap entertainers) during the birthday party of Jose Miguel Arroyo in 2004.

"I was defending the ladies. They are being exploited by Pagcor. I even called other women's organisation to go to their assistance. The article was not against them [Pagcor ladies]," Cruz said.

Biggest defence

"I did not write down their names," said Cruz, adding this was his biggest defence in the case against him. It was Pagcor which listed down the names of the women who attended the party four years ago.

Earlier, a Manila prosecutor had junked the complaint filed by Pagcor's lady marketing assistants.

But the complainants filed a motion before the justice department, prompting Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to order the filing of libel charges against Cruz last April.