Tuesday, February 19, 2008
No politics in 'truth' mass for Jun
PEOPLE nearly filled the Redemptorist Church in yesterday’s mass held in “search of the truth” amid allegations of widespread corruption in the country.
The mass was organized by Dilaab, a Catholic Church movement. Organizers stressed the mass was not political.
During the mass, the group also launched a signature campaign in support of key witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. and other whistleblowers in the National Broadband Network (NBN) controversy.
In Cebu City Hall, Mayor Tomas Osmeña challenged senators to widen the scope of its investigation and look into the role of the Government of China on the NBN transaction.
Yesterday’s mass was attended by Dilaab members and supporters including those from Sanlakas and Akbayan. Also among those who attended were Cebu Regional Trial Court Judge Gabriel Ingles and former Cebu City mayor Alvin Garcia.
Process
Fr. Carmelo Diola, Dilaab overall coordinating steward, refused to give an estimate on the attendance but he said the big turnout did not surprise him because “that is the beauty of signatures.”
“Our mass is part of the process of conscience formation. The people must understand the issues and must not be forced to sign in our manifesto that speaks out that our political landscape is literally littered with large scale, unresolved graft cases,” said Diola, who officiated the mass.
In signing the document, the person expresses being “disgusted at the rampant and systemic corruption that is eating away the society.”
Signatories demand the whole truth on the NBN project. They also deman that those found guilty be prosecuted.
Issues
Other “high profile cases” taken up in the manifesto are the North Rail project, extra-judicial killings, fertilizer scam, “Hello, Garci” scandal, and Commission on Elections Computerization-Megapacific deal.
At the local level, Dilaab also raised issues such as the allegedly overpriced Asean lampposts, the Girl Scouts funding controversy, the pseudoephedrine and shabu laboratory cases, rampant car smuggling, vigilante killings and allegedly overpriced computers in Lapu-Lapu City.
“We decry all attempts to suppress the truth (such as the EO 464 that prevents Cabinet members from testifying in the Senate) and to intimidate and imprison those who dare to speak it. We encourage those of you who know the truth about these issues to speak out,” read the manifesto.
After gathering signatures this week, Dilaab will send copies of the manifesto on Saturday to President Arroyo, the Supreme Court, Senate president, House speaker, Ombudsman, and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.
Diola told reporters yesterday’s mass was a big event, like an “Edsa with a change because we are not going to the streets.”
“There are others ways (of fighting corruption) with less sweat. What is more challenging is how we can influence others without weakening further our institutions. We need a change of mentality and heroic Christian citizenship. We are linking silently and asking the people to pray...Praying is silent but very palpable and powerful. The Church is helping form the conscience of the people. That’s our competence,” he said.
Dilaab is also calling for a transparent, impartial, and immediate investigation. The group is also calling for reforms in government procurement practices, better witness protection programs, protection against abuse of government power, and professionalization of the government bureaucracy.
“We are in this together as part of the problem and part of the solution. Apathetic silence makes us part of the problem. So do bribery and tax evasion. Solidarity, that ‘firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good,’ makes us part of the solution,” said their statement.
Truth
The gospel reading and homily were done by Fr. Roderick Salazar, president of the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (Ceap). He urged mass goers to pray so as not to lose hope and stay united.
“What should we do when truth comes out? This will be a long process. People are saying, ‘Resign!’ here, ‘Resign!’ there. If that happens, what will we do then? What we are doing is not a game. We just can’t search the truth and exclude the consequences of the truth. Can we recognize the truth when it’s there? As a saying goes, no lie can live forever,” he said.
After the mass, participants lighted candles and sang “Bayan Ko.”
China’s link
In Cebu City Hall, meanwhile, Osmeña said he does not want to have anything to do with the political turmoil in Manila. He, however, questioned the function of the Senate and the way it has been conducting its investigation.
The mayor said senators should also include the government of the People’s Republic of China in their investigation and find out what its officials know about the NBN contract.
For the past days, the Senate investigation revolved around whistle blower Lozada, he lamented.
“Why is it focused just on that and around Lozada only? How come the government of China’s link to the case, they don’t question it? There’s a P160-million kickback, do you honestly think the government is not aware of it? How come they don’t question that, what the People’s Republic of China know about it? They only confine everything to Lozada,” Osmeña said.
The mayor said he prefers to ignore developments in Manila and just focus on the affairs of Cebu City.
“I really wonder what the role of Senate is. What is their role, to find out who Jose Pidal is? Who Garcillano is? The local governments can’t get any decent law. Instead they create cities and disregard the Constitution?” he said.
Osmeña was referring to the laws passed that created cities out of municipalities even when the requirements on population and income were not met. (NRC/LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 19, 2008 issue)
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