Bishops mull nationwide ‘anti-corruption tour’

MANILA, Philippines - After calling for change in government amid alleged rampant corruption in government, Catholic bishops are set to tour the country to spread their message for change. In a radio interview, Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz on Wednesday said they have received invitations to go around the country to speak on the problem of corruption. "Kami iniimbita kung saan-saan para ipaliwanag, para sila malaman kung ano'ng gagawin. Kami po ngayon pupunta sa iba't ibang lugar kung saan kami iimbitahin (We have been invited to many places to explain our position so that the people will be guided on what they can do. So we will go where we are invited)," Cruz said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also clarified they are not calling for an overthrow of the Arroyo government, saying they merely want people to be aware of the problem of corruption. Cruz, a vocal critic of Malacañang, said it is important that people go beyond being mere spectators. "Ang sinasabi lang, huwag kayo bulag, bingi at pipi. Makiisa sa pag-iisip ano ang pwedeng gawin sama-sama. Hindi tayo nagmamasid na lang (What I am saying is that we should not be blind, dumb and deaf. We must be one in discerning what we should do. We must not be content just watching)," Cruz said. On the other hand, Cruz laughed off presidential spokesman Jesus Dureza's "reply" that now is not the right time for change because of the global financial crunch. "Naku ang global recession sinasabi all fundamentals are in place. What are the fundamentals in place? Huwag natin sabihing nagkakaganyan tayo dahil fundamentals in place. Nagkaganyan tayo dahil bilyon ang nawawala sa kaban ng bayan (Why talk about a global recession when you claim all fundamentals are in place? Don't tell me we are facing a crisis now because the fundamentals are in place. We are facing a crisis now because billions of pesos in taxpayers' money was lost to corruption)," Cruz said. Cruz also scored Dureza for saying Charter change is the answer to the problem of corruption. "Panginoon ko! Kung sila-sila rin e di pare-pareho. Sa kotse, kung ang nagmamaneho mahusay, aandar yan. Kung ang nagmamaneho bobo kahit bago, babangga (My God! Even if we amend the Constitution and have the same guys in power, nothing will change. It's like a car - if the driver is good, it will go forward. But if the driver is stupid, even a new car will crash)," Cruz said. - GMANews.TV