Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
CBCP news
Manila (Agenzia Fides) – “The campaign, carried out by a movement against corruption, is not political. Rather, it concerns a moral issue, which is why Catholic representatives and institutions are at the forefront: because of the moral and spiritual value of the protest, which originates from indignation, calls for conversion of heart, and promotes the true common good,” Msgr. Colin Bagaforo, Bishop of Kidapawan, told Fides. The bishop was present at the demonstration on September 21, which brought over 100,000 people to the streets of Manila, while rallies and demonstrations against corruption also took place in other Philippine cities. The bishop is one of the members of the “Church Leaders Council for National Transformation” forum, which brings together over 200 movements, associations, unions, political groups, civil society organizations, and universities in Philippine society, which have called for participation. The protest arose due to the embezzlement of funds intended for infrastructure projects to prevent and mitigate climate disasters and extreme events such as typhoons, which are currently ravaging the country and have already caused over 100,000 internally displaced persons. Two symbols represent the protests: the crocodile and a white ribbon. “The crocodile,” Bishop Bagaforo explained to Fides, “is an animal that devours everything, even its own children. In this case, the crocodiles are the politicians and businessmen who are devouring the future of young Filipinos by stealing funds intended for development and protection. The second symbol is a white ribbon, which those present wore with a cockade on their clothing to highlight the urgency of transparency, purity, and also hope for a better future.” Bishop Bagaforo adds: “The Church’s presence in this time of popular protest is also conditioned by the need for synodality: We felt called to stand alongside vulnerable people, those who have been betrayed, and those deprived of their fundamental rights. We want to share their joys and sufferings and raise our voices for those who have no voice or are afraid, to demand clarification of responsibilities, transparency, and justice.”The demands of the popular movement, according to the bishop, include “the transfer of full powers to a commission of inquiry capable of investigating those responsible for the theft of funds; the obligation of parliamentarians to disclose and publish their income and sources of funding; the abolition of the ‘pork barrel,’ that is, state benefits to members of Congress and the Senate, which are the main source and temptation for corruption.” Following the protests, the bishop stated, “society has sent a signal to politicians; those in power must remember that they are servants of the people and the common good. It is a struggle for ethics, responsibility, and conscience that we will continue, based on Christian values, with the goal of protecting the future of our young people.” Among the ecclesiastical voices that have spoken out, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, currently in Manila, reminded government officials in his homily during Mass at the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption in the district of Malate that “they are not owners of the nation’s wealth, but administrators who must manage public funds honestly and responsibly,” and urged his fellow citizens to “pray for their leaders.”The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal José Advincula, described corruption as “a concrete form of evil” and accused “unreasonable individuals in both the government and the private sector of wanting to drown the Filipino people in the flood.” Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan warned that “indignation alone is not enough to eradicate corruption.” “We need a revolt not just against a corrupt system, but a revolt against the corrupt hearts and souls within us that allow the corrupt to thrive,” and hoped for “a real change in the heart of each and every one of us.”In a pastoral letter, the Bishop of San Carlos, Gerardo Aliminaza, warned that the fight against corruption does not end with one-day protests, but requires a “deep and lasting commitment to justice and accountability.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 23/9/2025)
Share: