Philippine bishops on corruption: “Let's start again from our conscience”
The new president of the Bishops' Conference, Msgr. Garcera, opens dialogue with government agencies and with President Marcos himself, against whom two impeachment requests have been filed. The Church is willing to collaborate in monitoring public works, the failure to complete which triggered the crisis. The president of Caritas: ‘Corruption in the country is systemic, and everyone's contribution is needed to respond.’
Manila (AsiaNews) - ‘We are open to dialogue with government agencies, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on issues affecting the Filipino people, as long as they serve the good of the country.’ Thus Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, the new president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), intervened in the debate on corruption that has been rocking the country for months.
Garcera, together with Caritas president Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos and Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, president of the CBCP's Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, held a press conference in Manila at the end of the 131st plenary assembly of the Bishops' Conference, which took place from 21 to 26 January in the presence of 87 bishops.
For Garcera, one of the concrete ways to tackle corruption in the country is to follow one's conscience. ‘Whatever anyone says,’ he commented, ‘if conscience does not come into play, our way of thinking will be distorted. We all feel this call, and that is what matters.’
In the context of the clash over corruption and the political divisions afflicting the country, the bishops discussed their priorities for the next two years and called for dialogue with the government.
When asked if Garcera was willing to meet with Marcos Jr. even now that two impeachment requests have been filed against him, the answer was yes. ‘We are open because it is necessary,’ said the president of the Bishops' Conference. ‘The key word is dialogue in humility.’
Faced with the continuing emergence of corruption scandals, the bishops said their approach will remain anchored in conscience formation, collective action and open channels with the state, seeking moral clarity and national healing in a time of growing division.
The CBCP also said it was willing to work with the government and its agencies to monitor public projects in order to ensure greater accountability and transparency and promote good governance. Garcera also called for a ‘conversion of heart’ among those involved in corruption.
Bishop Alminaza added: “I think it is somewhat providential that we are increasingly aware of widespread corruption, and this really pushes us to do something about it. We cannot expect a single sector of society, or the government alone, to solve the problem. It is really everyone's responsibility. Corruption has become systemic. That is why we need collective action to respond.”
For his part, Bishop Bagaforo Bishop Bagaforo said he hoped that those involved in the corruption of public funds would be punished according to the law.
The CBCP hopes to collaborate with government agencies and civil society groups to improve services for the poor. ‘We will really try to create partnerships so that services for the population actually reach the people and can be monitored,’ Alminaza said.
‘It's about helping each other to be more accountable and making sure that we really serve the poorest of the poor, those who are most in need, so that programmes respond to the real needs of the people.’ In this regard, the National General Assembly of Social Action of the Philippine Church, to be held in February, will also look into this issue, and government officials have been invited to participate in a dialogue.
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