Catholic schools call for vigilance, unity amid corruption in PH

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) urged Filipinos to “turn outrage into a sustained proclamation of hope with firm commitment to change and moral renewal” amid the recent revelations linked to the alleged corrupt practices in the country.

In a statement on Monday, CEAP said corruption is “so deeply rooted that we have long numbed ourselves to it.”

“To all Filipino citizens, we urge vigilance and unity: engage with public officials, monitor local projects, join community consultations, report irregularities, and refuse complicity in bribery,” the group of Catholic schools said.

Citing Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium, the association described corruption as a “process of death” that “hardens hearts, normalizes injustice, and poisons hope.”

“It institutionalizes greed and deadens conscience, producing leaders and businesses driven by self-interest for wealth and power, brazen in corrupt acts, and callously indifferent to the suffering of the poor and powerless,” CEAP said.

The educators urged the Executive Branch to be transparent with its procurement, strict in enforcing an open and competitive bidding, and consistent in reporting its progress and audit reports.

And to Congress, CEAP seeks the lawmakers to strengthen laws that protect whistleblowers, regulate campaign financing, mandate citizen participation in infrastructure project monitoring, and criminalize negligence in public works.

“To the Judiciary and oversight bodies, we insist on swift prosecution of anomalies in construction projects, firm imposition of penalties on erring contractors and officials, and the publication of technical and financial audit results to ensure accountability,” it added.

CEAP also urged the youth to be courageous in using the digital platform and other skills to demand accountability and justice.

For fellow educators, CEAP called on them to strengthen schools as “bastions of values and integrity.”

“Let us commit to forming ethical, discerning, and prophetic leaders of our nation, with consciences that are formed and informed, dedicated to loving and serving God and country.”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines earlier denounced corruption in flood control projects and demanded that money that had been stolen from taxpayers be returned.

CBCP president and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David stated in a pastoral letter that private contractors and financiers, legislators, district engineers, government auditors, and political patrons “share in the plunder.”

David said “true justice” entails more than just punishing those who collude in corruption.

“It also calls for restitution: that stolen wealth be returned to the public coffers from which it was taken,” the Kalookan bishop said. “Many of those implicated will not be impoverished by such reparation, yet the nation remains poor if the funds are not restored.”

A total of P341 million worth of flood control projects by three contractors are either substandard, overpriced, or non-existent, based on the documents of the Commission on Audit and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) provided to the Office of the Ombudsman.

President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last month disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors.

” This is another disturbing assessment, statistic: 20% of the entire P545 billion budget just went to 15 contractors. Of those 15 contractors, five of them have a contract across the Philippines. Keep going. Ayan. This is the list, ” Marcos said during a press conference where he launched the website on flood control projects.

Marcos said the five contractors with projects in almost all regions across the country include Legacy Construction Corporation, Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., St. Timothy Construction Corporation, EGB Construction Corporation, and Road Edge Trading & Development Services.

Contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, owners of St Timothy, on Monday disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and DPWH officials who are allegedly involved in corruption in the country’s flood control projects. — BAP, GMA Integrated News