ROMAN Catholics and Protestants, religious organizations and institutions amplify their common aspiration, adding voice to the resounding call to abolish pork barrel, greater transparency and accountability and re-allocation of public funds to essential social services.
The Church as the guide of the Filipino nation cannot take anymore the maneuvers of the Aquino government to cover-up his corrupt and failing bureaucracy.
“What moral ascendancy left of the Aquino government will come to naught if he will not heed the cry of the people. He must scrap all forms of pork barrel and make erring public officials and individuals accountable. Diversionary issues as in the current crisis in Mindanao will only aggravate the anger of the people”, said Nardy Sabino, Secretary General of PCPR.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines, an aggrupation of mainline Protestant churches, earlier forewarned the people to be vigilant that the calls for investigation will not be muddled by the patronage system, to remain focused on the issue of corruption in high places diverted as we are often by other issues.
The testimony of Benhur Luy clearly points Aquino as responsible for the whole controversy. The knowledge of Christ as savior compels search for truth and to hold transgressors accountable.
As long as the bureaucracy is haunted by the ills of corruption it will not deliver services that will benefit the people, most especially the poor. It is our unity Roman Catholics and Protestants, therefore to call action to pressure the immediate abolition of all Pork Barrel and allocation of funds to social services. The Aquino administration remains accountable to this controversy as long as it fails to act.
Since the outbreak of this social malady, church people have trumpeted their stand:
The Catholic Education Association of the Philippines by its network of Catholic Schools have called: “collective undertaking as Filipinos pursue truth and genuine accountability.”
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) urges the religious all throughout the Philippines: “our prophetic responsibility compels all of us to make our voice be heard by all concern[ed]. We cannot be idle with what are happening around us.”
Nicodemus: Student Theologians and Formandi Solidarity earlier called: “Beyond our call for the abolition of the Pork Barrel System is our greater call to eradicate poverty as the greatest injustice that we face as a people… The protest action does not end that Monday of August twenty-sixth. We must remain vigilant.”
The National Task Force for Urban Conscientization (TFUC-AMRSP) sounds the cry of the urban poor: “Instead of using public money for the benefit of the poor, taxes are being squandered by politicians who seek office as a business enterprise. The Pork Barrel Scam is an outright disrespect to the many impoverished people of both the urban and rural parts of the country. This syndicated plunder of public funds worsens the situation of the poor by wiping away their hopes for a just society.”
Task Force of the Orientation of Church People (TFOCP) calls on “religious, clergy, and lay people alike must further the call for a just society as our primary role as people of the Gospel.”
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) advances the concern in the country side: “indigenous rights and land reform remain hampered by controversies as the root cause of all unrest.”
CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth narrates that the country and our people are beset with various saddening and disturbing issues many of which are recurring issues from the defective system that has not found a better alternative yet.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines calls the leaders of the land to take heed that callous insensitivity and betrayal of the public trust has led many of our people from imploring arms
Ismael Fisco Jr. Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (KKKP) Chairperson says: “We will be bearers of good news by denouncing the systems and structures that breeds and perpetuates corruption adding up to the misery and desecration to human life and dignity of the majority poor. We shall be bearers of good news as we take active stand for truth, transparency, accountability and genuine change.”
The collective voice of church people together with the people announces the good news of salvation by sustaining the call for preferential option for the poor.
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