Manila: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged for a comprehensive investigation into alleged corruption within flood control projects, emphasizing that accountability should extend beyond just the contractors to include legislators, engineers, auditors, and political patrons.
According to Philippines News Agency, a pastoral letter signed by CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, released late Saturday, highlighted the need for public outrage to be ‘inclusive.’ Cardinal David pointed out that in recent hearings, the admonition ‘Mahiya naman kayo!’ (Have shame!) was solely directed at contractors. He stressed that shame should be all-encompassing, implicating legislators, district engineers, government auditors, and political patrons who also partake in the plunder. The letter further accused private contractors and financiers of being equally culpable for colluding in corrupt practices.
The CBCP also raised concerns about the credibility of the current investigating bodies, questioning the integrity of inquiries conducted by institutions that may themselves be implicated. The letter criticized the insertion of national projects into the budget as pork, often at the expense of essential services like education, health, and social programs.
The bishops underscored that achieving true justice necessitates the restitution of stolen funds to public coffers, arguing that punishment alone is inadequate. They asserted that while many implicated individuals may not face personal impoverishment from reparation, the nation suffers if the misappropriated funds are not restored.
Supporting calls for an independent committee to examine anomalies in flood control projects and budgetary insertions, the CBCP urged Filipinos, particularly the youth, to utilize their digital platforms for vigilance, truth-telling, and pressing for reforms. The letter acknowledged that the challenge extends beyond government, business, or contractors, implicating the Church as well. The bishops admitted to past failures, whether through silence, tolerance of corruption within their ranks, or not exemplifying consistent integrity, asserting that the call for accountability must begin with themselves.
