MANILA — Outgoing Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, during the Trillion Peso March, challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to “prove his vow against corruption” amid the ongoing investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.
There has been some progress in the investigation into the projects, with some cases already filed at the Sandiganbayan. Protesters on Sunday said, however, that this has not been enough.
“Ang panawagan namin ay simple lang, magtrabaho naman kayo. Paninindigan ninyo ang sinimulan ninyo, itong paglaban sa korapsiyon,” David said in his speech.
(Our call is simple: Do the work. Finish what you started, this fight against corruption)
This is the second Trillion Peso March, after the first anti-corruption protest held on September 21.
What has happened since the September 21 People Power Monument and Luneta rallies?
“Patunayan ninyo na lulubos-lubusin ninyo sa pamamagitan ng totoong transparent na imbestigasyon ng ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure), ang tunay na maghahabol sa mga kurakot sa paraang walang sinasanto saan man dalhin ang imbestigasyon ng mga ebidensiya,” he added.
(Prove that you will do this fully by making the ICI truly transparent and genuinely go after the corrupt who ever they maye be)
Public doubt over the administration’s transparency grew after former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin said he was told by someone outside Malacañang that “he had to go” from his post, contrary to the Palace’s statement that he resigned from his post “out of delicadeza” after he was tagged in the flood control probe.
This also amid questions on the “lack of action” taken on the alleged involvement of former House speaker and Marcos’ first cousin, Martin Romualdez.
The ICI Friday last week has referred to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to investigate Romualdez further.
‘PORK BARREL’
David also called out the reemergence of “pork barrel” in the national budget despite the Supreme Court ruling the practice unconstitutional.
The cardinal was pertaining to the flood control and infrastructure projects secretly inserted in the budgets, which he said would amount to P3 billion in the last 10 years.
He said what appeared overpriced and substandard projects before have morphed into ghost projects that only exist on papers.
“Nitong mga huling taon, sumobra na ang kawalan ng kahihiyan. Mga reports na lang sa papel ang lumilitaw. Napakamahal ng mga multong iyan. Mga multong nagpapataba sa bulsa ng mga politikong halang ang bituka,” he said.
(These past years, the shamelessness has become too much. We only see reports on paper. These are such expensive ghosts. Ghosts that fatten the pockets of greedy politicians)
PASS ANTI-POLITICAL DYNASTY BILL, OTHERS
David called political dynasties the “most malignant cancer in society,” questioning why there is yet an implementing law prohibiting it despite being unconstitutional as per the 1987 Constitution.
“Kaya giit ng bayan ngayon dito sa EDSA, sa mga senador at congressman, kung may natitira pa silang kahihiyan, kung totoong bayan ang ibig paglingkuran, ipasa na ninyo ang mga mas mahalagang panukalang batas,” he added.
(That's why the people here at EDSA is for senators and House members — if you have shame left, if you are sincere about public service — pass these important pieces of legislation)
David called for the passage of the Independent Commission for Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Bill and Budget Transparency Bill, as well as the genuine implementation of the Freedom of Information Act and party development reform.
He also urged the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the local government code to strengthen citizens' and sectors’ representation.
‘NO COVER UPS, NO SCARED COWS’
Meanwhile, a unity statement led by Caritas Philippines President and Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said there should be “no cover ups, no scared cows” and called for only the truth.
They called for accountability of politicians, officials and contractors involved in the corrupt flood control projects, and restitution of the ill-gotten wealth acquired from it.
They urged public officials to respect the Constitution by not engaging in military junta and other destabilization plots.
Like David, Akbayan president Rafaela David challenged Marcos to declare the passage of the anti-political dynasty bill as urgent.
She also called for a reform on the party-list system, which she said families use as “backdoor” to circumvent term limits.
Anti-political dynasty bill filed again at Senate
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