September 29th Assembly Against Corruption

Allow me to apologize for typing in September 26, rather than the correct date, September 29, for the assembly against corruption in Cebu and elsewhere. Please remember the correct date --September 29, this Sunday please.

In Cebu, you may have already read the September 29th schedule as well as the unity statement posted by the Cebu Coalition against Corruption. If you have, please help spread the word and encourage, invite others to join you and the rest of the Filipinos this Sunday to denounce corruption!

September 29th schedule starts with assembly at Fuente Osmeña at 1 p.m.

At 1:30 p.m. the participants will march through Osmeña Blvd. to Plaza Independencia. At 3 p.m., there will be a concelebrated Mass to be followed at 4 p.m. by interfaith prayers and speeches from sectoral representatives. There will also be intermission numbers during this time. At 6 p.m., attendees will be asked to light candles while singing Bayan Ko. The Sunday, September 29th assembly against corruption is expected to finish by 6:30 p.m.

The signing of the Unity Statement vs. corruption is still ongoing --you can log on to Facebook and go to Cebu Coalition against Corruption and be counted among the Filipinos against corruption!

The UNITY STATEMENT AGAINST CORRUPTION states that "we, concerned citizens, civil society organizations, business groups, and individuals of goodwill, guided by our respective beliefs and by our love for the Philippines, denounce the pork barrel system which is at the heart of the present corrupt political system.

"In the pork barrel system, lump sum amounts are placed at the discretion of only one person; which allows him/her to use public funds for patronage politics, political dynasties and personal gain.

"We are united in condemning this CORRUPTION!

"As the SOVEREIGN PEOPLE, we, the REAL BOSSES are UNITED in ORDERING our PUBLIC SERVANTS the following: 1. Immediate resignation of public servants who are formally charged by the Department of Justice; 2. Punishment of convicted pork barrel schemers and the return of their loot to the coffers of the people; 3. Abolition of the pork barrel system by whatever name or form. We include the pork barrel of all three branches of government, namely, the executive, legislative, judiciary; and their ancillary departments: 4. Respect for and protection of the people's sovereign right to reclaim management of public funds for the benefit of the common good, such as social services. This is one way of eliminating patronage politics; 5. Providing the people with all the information they need in the interest of transparency, accountability, participation, and co-responsibility.

"To turn these demands into a workable reality, civil society organizations, business groups, the academe, the different religions, non-believers, credible representatives from the government, and individuals of goodwill with relevant competence, will come together to thresh out the concrete details of this unity statement.

"Likewise, we express our contrition for "we are not just victims of a corrupt system. We have all, in one way or another, contributed to this worsening social cancer-through our indifferent silence or through our cooperation when we were benefiting from the sweet cake of graft and corruption.

"We, the people, honor the God of our understanding and one another. We re-confirm our pledge to our country. We honor and respect our laws, regulations and ordinances; and public servants who serve the common good."

Elsewhere, in Japan, our overseas Filipinos in Tsukuba, have also scheduled this Sunday, September 29, a similar assembly vs. corruption from 1-3 p.m. at the Tsukuba Catholic Church.

The participants will start with prayers, followed by a discussion by Tsukuba Professor Nathan Quimpo about the pork barrel system, then sharing of views and prayers against corruption.

Pinoys in Japan are being asked to express their sentiments (MAKIHAYAG), to be involved (MAKIALAM), and to unite in prayer (MAKIDASAL) and to join the peaceful protest against corruption (MAPAYAPANG PAG-AALSA KONTRA KURAPSYON).

We hope and pray you and all other Filipinos wherever you are will do your share to unite vs. corruption with all our kababayan in Cebu, in Tsukuba, Japan, and elsewhere all throughout the world this September 29th.

As posted by the Cebu Coalition against Corruption- "kuyog kitang tanan, kab-uton ta ang langit!"

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