Bishops Demand broad Probe into Flood Project Corruption
MANILA – The Catholic Bishops’ conference of the philippines (CBCP) is calling for a extensive investigation into corruption surrounding flood control projects, extending accountability beyond contractors to include legislators, engineers, auditors, and political sponsors. The call came in a pastoral letter released Saturday, signed by CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David.
The bishops emphasized that public condemnation should be “inclusive,” stating, ”Legislators, district engineers, government auditors, and political patrons also share in the plunder,” alongside private contractors and financiers. Cardinal David directly referenced recent hearings, noting the rebuke “Mahiya naman kayo!” (Have some shame!) was solely directed at contractors.
The CBCP also raised concerns about the impartiality of current investigating bodies, questioning their credibility given potential institutional involvement. “How credible are these inquiries when the very institutions conducting them are themselves implicated? Who inserted these national projects into the budget as pork, ofen at the expense of education, health and social programs?” the letter stated.
Beyond punishment,the bishops stressed the importance of recovering stolen funds. “Stolen wealth must be returned to the public coffers from which it was taken. Many of those implicated will not be impoverished by such reparation, yet the nation remains poor if the funds are not restored,” they wrote.
The CBCP supports the formation of an autonomous committee to investigate anomalies and urged citizens, particularly young people, to utilize digital platforms to promote vigilance, transparency, and demand reform. The letter concluded with a call for self-reflection within the Church itself, acknowledging past failures in addressing corruption.
