Bishops slam corruption, call on people to prepare for new govt

MANILA, Philippines - Five Catholic bishops on Tuesday criticized anew the rampant graft and corruption in the government and called on the people to prepare for the next government. “The biggest culprit and major cause of our nation’s poverty and hunger is graft and corruption which has invaded all public and private institutions. Corruption is the abuse and misuse of public or private office to unlawfully enrich oneself and those close to him, or induce others to do the same. It is only an economic and social problem but by and large a moral issue and a moral problem," part of the statement read by Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, said. Lagdameo’s statement was concurred in by four other bishops, namely Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon, Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas and Legazpi Bishop-Emeritus Jose Sorra. Asked whether the statement is a call for the public to organize a move to oust President Arroyo, Lagdameo said it is up to the public to decide on what course of action they want to use. “Kailangan ang taong bayan ay magsama-sama kung paano sila mag-response together dun sa sulat namin na sinabi naming communal discernment and communal action," he explained. The CBCP senior official also urged the public to prepare for a new government, which is free from “social and moral cancer" that is corruption. “In response to the global economic crisis and the pitiful state of our country, the time to rebuild our country economically, socially, politically is now. The time to start radical reforms is now. The time for moral regeneration is now. The time to conquer complacency, cynicism and apathy and to prove that we have matured from our political disappointments is now. The time to prepare a new government is now," Lagdameo said. The prelate noted that corruption in government is continuously growing despite condemnation of the Catholic Church. “In the past few years up to today, we have watched how corruption has become endemic, massive, systemic and rampant in our politics. The faces and symptoms of corruption are overprized projects, multi-billion scams of various kinds, election manipulations, anomalous transactions, bribery of both high and low, unsolved murders of media practitioners. Corruption is a social and moral cancer," Lagdameo said, adding that his statement does not represent the bishops’ group but as the bishop of Iloilo. The CBCP have repeatedly denounced corruption in the country. For his part, Cruz said that the corruption committed under the Arroyo administration is something that cannot be dealt with by the human justice system alone. “Corruption in such an extensive degree in the Philippines is a crime that cries to heaven for vengeance. Corruption in this country has become endemic, systemic, from top to bottom in government. Perhaps they may be given the punishment they deserve by the human justice system, but that’s not enough. Someone else in the Higher Authority will punish them as they deserve," said the former CBCP president. The staunch Arroyo critic also cited the distinction received by Arroyo as the most corrupt president in the country’s history. “Though our country is at the 11th place of the most corrupt from the bottom, we even have a gold medalist of corruption in our national leader. To say that the Malacañang occupant is a follower of corruption and not a leader in corruption is already asking too much. Perhaps, if this is said, it will take someone from the moon to believe that the head of corruption is down below and not above," Cruz said. On the other hand, Bishop Villegas said they are hoping that their statement will awake the public’s conscience to have a better country. “We are not here to bring you peace. We are here to disturb you. I’m praying to God that after this meeting, may the Lord trouble you because the trouble that comes from the Lord is going to make you a better person and it’s going to make the country a better country," he said. - GMANews.TV