Manila (12 February) -- Malacanang said yesterday it respects the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) call for communal action but considers it as premature.

"Communal action precisely calls for circumspection, a consideration of all the facts, and due regard for what will serve the common good in the long term," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

Bunye was commenting on the statement read Sunday by the CBCP on the testimonies of Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. and Joey de Venecia III before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the already-cancelled National Broadband Network (NBN)-ZTE deal.

In its statement referring to Lozada and De Venecia, the CBCP said: "Their public confession may be considered a providential event that may yet save our country from being hostage to scandalous and shady government deals that offend the common good and serve only personal, family and group interests."

"Only the truth, not lies and deceits, will set our country free. This truth challenges us now to communal action," the CBCP added.

Bunye said: "We respect the CBCP's call for communal action but consider it premature."