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Nuns, priests to form human chain vs AFP corruption


Several Catholic nuns and priests aim to send a strong message against corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday by forming a human chain along a major Manila thoroughfare together with one of the whistle-blowers. The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) said retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa will join the human chain as a symbolic action of unity for truth and justice. “We also aim renewed unity in our quest for truth, accountability and justice," AMRSP co-chairwoman Sr. Mary John Mananzan said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site shortly before midnight Thursday. Expected to take part in the human chain along Taft Avenue are artists, students, and members of various civil society groups. Mananzan particularly urged students and teachers to join their activity as a symbol of their quest for truth. “It is also our wish that our students, faculty members, professionals and church people be aware of the problems besetting our society," she said. Mananzan added they are also hoping the public will be inspired by the “courageous deed" of former state auditor Heidi Mendoza “to do a service to the country." Rabusa had testified before congressional inquiries on alleged "pabaon" (send-off gift) and "pasalubong" (welcome gift), and other irregular practices among the AFP top brass. He had testified that the late former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes received P50 million in "pabaon" when he retired as AFP chief of staff. The CBCP said Friday's human chain is the culmination of a forum dubbed as “May pabaon ka ba diyan?" (“Do you have a send-off gift for me?") to be held at the Augusto Rosario Gonzalez Theater of the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Expected to attend the forum are Rabusa, former University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications Dean Luis Teodoro and Philippine Air Force Capt. Joenel Pogoy. Pogoy was released from detention in October 2010 after a two-year detention for posting videos of his views on corruption on the popular video-sharing website YouTube. The three speakers will give their insights on the alleged corrupt practices in the AFP as revealed in recent Congressional hearings.—JV, GMA News

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