Catholic schools urged to support AFP whistle-blowers

Catholic schools have been urged to hang banners supporting at least three witnesses who have testified on alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines said this is the least it could do for the three, who it said risked their lives to tell the truth. Last week, Ateneo de Manila University expressed its support to Heidi Mendoza, a former government auditor who followed the money trail left by former miitary comptroller Carlos F. Garcia, who is facing a multimillion plunder suit. "We encourage our members to publicly manifest their support for truth-tellers: hang banners of support in their schools and release statements of solidarity," the CEAP said in a statement, excerpts of which were posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. CEAP lauded Mendoza, retired military budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa and Air Force Col. Antonio Ramon Lim for their courage to tell the truth. Mendoza in particular had received death threats last weekend and has sought security. Rabusa, on the other hand, had linked former AFP chiefs of staff to welcome and sendoff cash gifts, including the late former AFP chief of staff Angelo Reyes, who he said received P50 million in sendoff money when he retired. Lim corroborated Rabusa's allegation against Reyes, who shot himself in the chest in front of his mother's grave in Marikina City last Tuesday. He was rushed to a Quezon City hospital but doctors failed to revive him. Reyes had denied Rabusa's allegation. 'Christian conscience' The CEAP also called on Catholic schools to partner with other Church and civil society groups supporting the three witnesses, and conduct joint activities. It said Catholic schools must likewise continuously educate their students towards "Christian conscience." "Discuss corruption in all academic circle; form our students in truth, integrity and courage," the CEAP said. Also, the CEAP appealed to the government to ensure that those "who dared speak to reveal the truth" be protected. It likewise called on the judiciary, particularly the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, to uphold the truth "without fear or favor." "We urge the legislature to ensure that this investigation results in concrete measures to curb corruption and improve the justice system in the country," the CEAP said. "Let it not degenerate into a circus for political vendetta and empty grandstanding," it added. Support for whistle-blowers In Cebu, Archbishop Jose Palma also said the "truth" should build and develop the community. "Yes, we encourage people to come out and speak the truth if they believe this is for the good of the country," Palma said in an article on the Union of Catholic Asian News website. "The discernment is if the truth is community building and community developing, then the truth shall serve the community," Palma added. But his predecessor, retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, said Mendoza should be given the freedom to choose to continue her testimony. "We cannot force her. Let her decide. In cases like that, we do not intervene ourselves. That is not our area of concern," he said. For his part, CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said whistle-blowers may help deter corruption in government. "We encourage the truth to come out," he said, adding that "to stop corruption… guilty persons should be prosecuted." Bishop Odchimar said the Church can offer moral support to whistleblowers, but "we are not in the proper position to protect [them]. We do not have police powers. We do not have safe houses." On the other hand, Father Carmelo Diola of Dilaab Foundation Inc. sought daily prayers for Mendoza. "(She) is not a whistle-blower but a truth-teller," he said. — RSJ, GMA News