Multi-sectoral meet on action vs corruption

What action should be done in order to end rampant corruption in  government and start moral renewal of the nation?

This question, which stemmed from the public confession made by resigned environment official Rodolfo Lozada Jr. on the alleged anomaly in the canceled $329-million national broadband network project, has remained unanswered for various groups from different sectors that met yesterday.

Initiated by Catholic Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a vocal critic of President Arroyo, the dialogue was attended by some 50 persons representing 16 groups from the religious, business, legal and legislative sectors.

“It was a dialogue of various groups with the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines), Protestant bishops  and Muslim leaders. We listened to them so we would know what their thoughts are and what they want to be done. It should not be just talking, there must be something done. This is communal action,” Cruz told reporters in an interview.

However, the prelate from Lingayen-Dagupan admitted that the groups were not able to arrive at a consensus yet on concrete actions that must be done in support of Lozada’s testimony linking former elections chief Benjamin Abalos and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to the NBN scandal.

“It (action) was not clear yet. We still have to meet and talk again. But there’s a group tasked to come up with more concrete agenda,” stressed Cruz, who clarified that he organized the meeting in a personal capacity and not as official of CBCP.

The archbishop also revealed that it was already their sixth time to meet with the groups. Yesterday’s meeting  was joined by the Black and White Movement, Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, La Salle Brothers, Muslim Legal Assistance Foundation, Bangon Pilipinas Movement of Evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and party-list groups Bayan and Gabriela.

It was also learned that the meeting was attended by CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Asked if the bishops would come up with a statement soon on the NBN controversy, Cruz replied: “No plans for that yet. For now, we will continue the dialogue and hopefully come up with a program and plan of action.”

Meanwhile, militants mobilizing for massive protest actions next Monday assailed the Palace order declaring the anniversary of the People Power revolt on Feb. 25 as a special non-working holiday, which they said was an obvious effort by the government to sabotage the anti-Arroyo protest activities set for that day.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) yesterday said that by declaring Feb. 25 as a non-working holiday, the administration is trying to prevent people from joining the rally.

“The Arroyo regime is hoping against hope that students, workers and employees would rather stay home or go to malls than go to the rally. In a sense, it is mocking the Filipino people and our sense of moral justice,” said Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano, also chairman of KMP.

Mariano said the administration is desperate and hoping that declaring Feb. 25 a holiday would prevent people from attending protest actions.

Organized labor, meanwhile, yesterday rallied behind President Arroyo and dismissed the clamor for her immediate ouster.

While expressing outrage over “institutionalized” corruption in government, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said workers do not support moves for the ouster of the President.

“There is no sufficient evidence to prove her involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal so at this time we are not in favor of moves for Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster,” FFW president Allan Montano said.

Montano added that those calling for the President to step do not even have a qualified replacement for her at this time.

But Montano said the FFW is strongly against corruption in the government and the reported attempt to silence key witnesses in the raging ZTE controversy. – With Katherine Adraneda, Mayen Jaymalin