A Call for Emancipation

A Statement from Concerned Citizens of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro

A CALL FOR EMANCIPATION
FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION

“For authority was given you by the Lord,
your kingship is from the Most High…”

Wisdom 7:3

Lent is a season of reflection, penance, and self-renewal. Can it be providential that during this time of lent, we are hounded once again by deep and disturbing scandals affecting us individually as citizens and collectively as a nation?

The dismal state of corruption in government as revealed by recent revelations should now impel us to seek and pursue the truth. Actually, the truth is out. Corruption is rampant: in the use of public funds, among friends, in our dealings with foreigners, in public offices, among high and low officials.

The essential thing now, is for us to reflect on what has become of us Filipinos. And by “us” we mean all, both in and out of government, private and public individuals. For there seems to be a presupposition that corruption is bred by government and government alone. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Corruption exists even in the private sector which should likewise get its share of condemnation. Corruption is present even in churches and schools, among adults and youth. Moreover, like cancer it is not confined to just one part. It affects and pains from wherever it emanates. Rizal, a century ago, once alluded to a metaphor of the motherland as being sick. Did we ever reflect and ask ourselves why until this very day we have the same diagnosis?

On a brighter side however, we are grateful to God. With His grace, we still exist as a nation. Many times over, we have been given another lease on life as Filipinos, with our country-the Philippines. But our nation is still a work-in-progress. We’ve had numerous pre-colonial uprisings, modern day coup de etats, and people power revolts. We seem to be endlessly rolling the rock of Sisyphus up and down the hill of our destiny. But by the grace of God, we have survived.

And so we ask: Why are we corrupt? Why do we have this debilitating and enslaving sin? And this question we can only ask ourselves. Is it just our leaders? How about us? Do we put the blame on others only?

Are we indeed sovereign and responsible citizens? There is among us a cry of dismay over corruption. And there is a growing clamor for both immediate and long term actions. But before we leap, let us pause to reflect, to discern, to do penance, and pray for renewal done on a national level during this time of lent. Let us resolve to emerge from this period, discernment renewed at Easter time.

We respectfully request President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is conscience bound as a symbol of our sovereignty, to pronounce herself on the allegations hurled against her administration and her very family. The allegations are very serious and even point to her as being the core of all the anomalies happening in her government. We ask her, devout Catholic as she is, to level with us her people, to take us into her confidence in the spirit of lent, with God as her witness – but spare us the legal/technical jargons of politicians. We ask her to share her innermost sentiments and reflections with the people. What has she to say about why our country has become so corrupt? Let the blind eyes of justice prevail. If she’s still worth being our president, then let it be. But if she finds herself wanting, then in all humility, let her resign as an act of penance, and pave the way for national self-renewal eventually to evolve into a renewed nation embarked on high moral grounds and not just on power and self aggrandizement alone.

We pray that in this season of lent, we can reflect more on the causes of sin, do penance, and collectively renew our life as a nation by eradicating corruption around us in our personal life and in the life of the community.