SC chief to public: Listen to the whispers of conscience

Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Monday led the launching of a multi-sectoral social movement that aims to urge the public “to the whispers of our conscience." “We need not march to the streets, we need not raise our clenched fists – we need only to be still wherever we are and listen to the whispers of our conscience," Puno said in his speech at the launching of the Moral Force Movement (MFM) at Far Eastern University auditorium in Morayta, Manila. He also urged the people not just to stay neutral in the fight for morality because “the surest way to lose a fight against evil is through the conspiracy of silence." Coinciding with the celebration of National Heroes Day, the launch was their “humble way of honoring our national heroes who have demonstrated to us that no force is mightier than the moral force, hence, it was the force they unleashed to free our people from serfdom," Puno said.

According to the Supreme Court head, MFM clings to the proposition that the root of the nation’s problems is moral in nature so there is a need to develop transformational leaders and responsible citizens who can help revive moral values and ethical principles. Among the transformational leaders Puno cited were Pope John Paul II, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and the late former President Corazon Aquino. “Aquino, an exemplar of transformational leadership who taught us that it is not the love of power but the power of love that secures the thrones of leaders," Puno said. He said the leaderships of the figures he mentioned were effective, empowering and ethical. Puno earlier warned that the country’s “social volcano" is on the verge of eruption as he called on Filipinos to heal the wounds that divide the nation. Well attended Attendees in the launching were asked to sign a form where they will check their commitment to the MFM such as not electing candidates who bribes, cheats, lies or tolerates anyone who does; being an example of honesty and integrity, joining initiatives and movements that promote good governance, initiating workshops and activities to educate voters in their community; becoming a member of Namfrel or PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting). The attendees - mostly students from the FEU, Adamson University, Wesleyan University in Cabanatuan, and PPCRV members - were asked to line up and submit the forms to the MFM core groups in exchange of a baller ID that has the name of MFM on it. De Villa said the 1,000-seater FEU auditorium was full during the program. “This means that we are sending off 1,000 heroes who will initiate the change in their selves and influence other people to change as well," she said. In a chance interview after the launching, Puno said they want to stop the "further slide to moral decadence" of the country by focusing on the holding of the good election and development of transformational leaders. He however refused to answer questions regarding politics or next year's elections. "Interesting times" In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, political analyst Ramon Casiple said Puno may be accused of partisanship in ordinary times, “but we are now in interesting times and the leadership and institutions are being questioned due to corruption." He believed Puno is just doing his job to strengthen the country’s institutions. Feliciano Bautista, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president, agreed with Casiple. “There is no problem with that as it does not affect his job. As a citizen of the Republic, he is aware of what is happening. It (leading MFM) is within his rights as long as there is no politics involved," he said in a separate interview with GMANews.TV. He added that he is in favor of Puno’s move and he believed that only those who will be affected by the ‘moral force’ will complaint about it. “By and large, maganda na may natitirang tao na nagpapasimuno ng ganyan, na tatayo laban sa corruption. Kailangan natin ang tao na may kredibilidad at may paninindigan para mamuno sa ganyang samahan," he said. Present in the launch were MFM incoming chairman Solita Monsod; MFM core group members Henrietta De Villa, National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) chairperson; Dr Milwida Guevara, former Finance undersecretary; Msgr Gerardo Santos, president of Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP). Also present were (ret) Brig gen Jaime Echverria, Association of the Generals and Flag Officers president; Bishop Emerito Nacpil, retired bishop of the United Methodist Church of the Philippines; Marixi Prieto, Philippine Daily Inquirer chairperson; Dean Andres Bautista, FEU Law; Noorain Sabdulla, 2008 Ten Outstanding Young Men awardee. - GMANews.TV