CBCP, AMRSP to hold mass, signature drive for 'truth'

A mass and a signature drive will be held in Manila Friday morning to push for the ferreting out of the truth in the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal mess. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) secretariat will hold a "Mass for Truth" at 11:15 a.m. at a chapel inside the CBCP compound in Intramuros, Manila. "Let us pray, in particular, that these (Senate inquiry on the ZTE mess) hearings will be protected and guided by God's Sprit, so that the truth will be ferreted out and our government and people can move on in the road of true progress and peace," said CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura. Figura said the mass is in response to CBCP president Angel Lagdameo's call for "communal action" in the light of the nation's "search for truth and justice." He requested all priests working in the CBCP offices to concelebrate in the mass. For its part, the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) will push a nationwide signature campaign on the ongoing Senate inquiry on the ZTE mess. "There is an urgent need to create awareness among people about the NBN controversy. Signature campaign is one of the ways to that end," said AMRSP executive secretary Fr. Jesus Malit. After meetings with civil groups, the AMRSP decided to start signature crusade across the nation in every village, school, parish, and institution. Malit said the signature campaign should be seen at as a communal action. - GMANews.TV