It was courageous but damaging for two officials
of government, former Speaker Jose de Venecia and Mr. Rodolfo "Jun"
Lozada, to expose questionable government deals in millions of dollars
including scandalous and immoral kickbacks. It was courageous to come
out in the open to "publicly confess" the high level of
graft and corruption that they knew all along and "somehow"
have been involved in. But it was also damaging to their political
career as well as to significant others who are in high governance.
Damaging also because they opened themselves to further scrutiny and
inquiry. Truth hurts. Truth liberates. But the truth must be served.
The truth will set our country free (cf. John 8/32)
Their public confession may be considered a providential event that
may yet save our country from being hostage to scandalous and shady
government deals that offend the common good and serve only personal,
family and group interests. In our last CBCP Statement, the Bishops
strongly lamented the absence of social conscience today. This is
the root cause of our systemic graft and corruption.
We lament in this season of Lent not only that we are sinners but
also that our country has too long been captive to the corruption
of people in governance. "We have to confess that corruption
is in truth our greatest shame as a people." The call for a moral
revolution has deep implication. The CRUSADE FOR TRUTH being initiated
by the Religious like the AMRSP, Civil Groups and Clergy is encouraging,
and must be supported by all truth-loving and freedom-loving citizens.
Only the truth, not lies and deceits, will set our country free. This
truth challenges us now to communal action.
We encourage the "Watch and Pray" activity that will be
initiated by the Parish Pastoral Councils for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV).
We can also call it PPC for Responsible Citizenship. The flame of
"social consciousness and common good" must be kept alive.
We suggest the prayer used by the Magnificat Movement, the MAGNIFICAT
of Our Lady in Luke 1, 46-55 a prayer for social transformation.
As we said in our last CBCP Statement "let us pray together,
reason together, decide together, act together" "towards
a more vigorous work for good governance and a more active promotion
of responsible citizenship in our society in the light of the Gospel
and the Social Teachings of the Church."
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO
Archbishop of Jaro
CBCP President
February 10, 2008