CBCP warns of ‘flood of corruption,’ urges making corruption ‘shameful’
MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to be vigilant against the "flood of corruption," warning that it is "drowning the future of the nation.”
In a statement signed by CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the bishops’ conference urged the Filipino faithful, especially the youth, to make corruption "shameful again" and called for an independent investigation into anomalous flood control projects.
“At sa inyo, mga kabataan: nasa inyo ang susi ng bagong kultura. Kayo ang nabubuhay sa digital world kung saan araw-araw nagbabanggaan ang totoo at kasinungalingan,” the CBCP’s statement read, according to a Facebook post by David on September 6.
(And to you, the youth: the key to a new culture is in your hands. You are the ones who live in a digital world where truth and lies clash every day.)
“Gamitin ninyo ang inyong mga plataporma, hindi lang para maglabas ng galit, kundi para maging mapagbantay. Ibulgar ang mali, ibahagi ang totoo, at igiit ang reporma. Gawin nating kahiya-hiya muli ang katiwalian,” it added.
(Use your platforms not just to express anger, but to be vigilant. Expose wrongdoing, share the truth and demand reform. Let's make corruption shameful again.)
The Catholic bishops also emphasized that true justice requires not just punishment but also the return of stolen wealth, stating that while the corrupt individuals would not suffer financially from returning the money, the nation would remain poor if the funds were not recovered.
“Ang ganitong uri ng reparasyon ay hindi paghihiganti kundi ang makatarungang pagbabalik ng dapat ibalik, upang ang taumbayan ang makinabang sa pondong talagang para sa kanilang kapakanan,” the bishops’ statement read.
The statement was issued by the Catholic bishops amid the ongoing fiasco over alleged anomalous flood control projects, which cover allegations of corruption, overpriced contracts, substandard work, and ghost projects.
From 2023 to 2025, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the Philippine economy lost P118.5 billion due to flood control anomalies.
On August 11, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed that 20% of flood control projects worth P545 billion went to just 15 contractors since 2022.
The Department of Justice then issued Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders on Thursday, September 4, against 43 Department of Public Works and Highways officials and contractors in connection with the congressional probe into the fiasco.
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