Wednesday, March 05, 2008 'Search for Truth' drive gathers 20T signatures
AROUND 20,000 people from the provinces of Cebu and Bohol already “made up their minds” and joined Dilaab’s search for truth through a signature campaign, amid allegations of corruption in the highest levels of government.
The church-based movement is also expanding its campaign to Cagayan de Oro and La Union, where it is invited to share its vision and mission to the parishioners of the different dioceses there. It is also linking with Watch and Pray Network in Manila.
“A lot of convergence is happening here. I think it’s not because we have a monopoly on answers but in a way, we are at the right place and time, saying the things many of us can understand or agree with. We are united. We just need to articulate ourselves better. The signature campaign is slowly picking up with 20,000 signatures now,” said Fr. Carmelo Diola in yesterday’s 888 News Forum at Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.
During the first week alone after the campaign’s launch in a mass at Redemptorist Church last month, Dilaab collected around 5,000 signatures from the province.
Manifesto
The signatures appear in a manifesto that expresses disgust over “the rampant and systemic corruption” eating away at society.
Dilaab’s overall coordinating steward, Fr. Diola, said they will be continuing this activity even as Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. visits Cebu.
“From my perspective, what new things will I be learning in the search for truth? I’ve seen him (Lozada) on TV during the Senate hearings. I respect his plan to come to Cebu. But I think I’ll be very busy doing other things,” he said.
In consonance with the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to scrap Executive Order 464, copies of the signatures were sent to the Supreme Court yesterday. Dilaab hopes it will come up with “a categorical ruling” on EO 464, to allow those with knowledge of any corruption in government to testify without having to get the President’s permission.
The abolition of EO 464 was among the six actions prescribed by CBCP in its Feb. 26 pastoral statement.
The bishops also reiterated its appeal for “circles of discernment” at the grassroots, which Diola described as a way to pray to God and listen to each other for “personal and communal conversion.”
If their demand to have EO 464 scrapped is overruled, Dilaab will look at the arguments of the Supreme Court before deciding the next course of action.
“This is part of our journey towards political maturity. This is a long process that entails rational argumentation and awakening of spiritual energies. A quick fix is not the need of the hour. Let’s focus on the issue. We should not rise and fall with personalities,” Fr. Diola said. (NRC)
