TACLOBAN CITY – The Archdiocese of Palo reiterated its support for the pastoral letter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) condemning corruption, particularly in government infrastructure projects, but clarified that it is not organizing street rallies on the matter.
Fr. Chris Arthur Militante, spokesperson of the Palo Archdiocese, said the local Church is “scandalized” by the extent of corruption tied to flood control projects in Eastern Visayas and other parts of the country. However, he emphasized that the call is not only directed at government leaders but also serves as a “wake-up call for every Filipino.”
“We are all one against corruption, and this message is not only addressed to our leaders but also to every citizen,” Militante said in an online interview Monday, Oct. 6.
He noted that corruption becomes even more pressing during election season, when the culture of vote-buying persists.
“In our culture, we still sell our votes. Many are happy receiving P5,000 in a day in exchange for years of enduring substandard infrastructure and other forms of corruption,” Militante said.
He added that the faithful must channel their anger over corruption into more responsible political choices. “Hopefully, angered by corruption, we take the selection of our leaders more seriously in the future,” he said.
Militante stressed that the Church’s position goes beyond religion.
“The Church is the people. Those who march in rallies and speak against corruption are the Church itself. When priests and bishops raise their voices against corruption, it is not only because they are Catholics, but above all because they are Filipinos,” he said.
The Palo Archdiocese, headed by Archbishop John Du, joins other dioceses across the country in affirming the CBCP pastoral letter, which calls for greater vigilance, accountability, and citizen participation in addressing corruption.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
