Church leaders hold forum on corruption

CEBU, Philippines - Leaders and representatives of different churches gathered yesterday to discuss the problem on corruption in the country.

Sr. Mary John Mananzan, national co-chairperson of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), who was the main speaker of the event, said corruption has already become very rampant and could only be stopped if the people unite against it.

She was joined by the local leaders of churches in Cebu who gathered at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) church, in Mabini Street, Parian, Cebu City. They include Bishop Ebenexer Camino of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Bishop Felomino Ang of IFI, and Ustadz Najeeb Razul of the Cebu Muslim Community.

In February, church people who participated in the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR-Cebu) forum on Charter Change and Human Rights called for more discussion sessions on social issues and how to solve the “rampant” corruption in the Philippines.

The religious groups believe that endless graft and corruption issues such as jueteng, NBN-ZTE scandal, Euro-generals, World Bank accusations, Legacy scam and other scandals have a big impact in the country.

Yesterday’s forum was said to be a step in putting into action the PCPR-Cebu mandate “to live out our preferential option for the poor by being in solidarity with them.”

“It is Christian’s mandate to be with them (the poor) and struggle with them,” Rev. Jess Dumaual of Sacred Heart Church said.

Fr. Dumaual said that being religious people, first of all, they consider changing the individual life as a way to help in bringing corruption to an end, as everyone is involved in it. The second thing to change is the structure of the government, he added.

Participants also came up with a pastoral letter against corruption that was read by Sr. Mananzan.

Officers and members of Cebu Federal Inc. said the public was invited to participate in the discussions.

Cefedi is an organization of volunteers who believe that a change to a federal system of government is the only way to save our country and provide the younger generation a better place to live in. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)