More or less 4,000 Palaweños gathered at the Seminario de San Jose football field on Sunday afternoon to join the Prayer and Indignation Rally against corruption, joining several protest rallies across the country, the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa (AVPP) said.
The event, dubbed Pagpapahayag ng Pagkakaisa: Itigil ang Korapsyon, was organized by the AVPP together with other religious organizations and different groups from business, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, academe, and the youth sector.
In their messages, representatives from youth, business, and civil society emphasized the need for reforms and to put an end to corruption in government that has been plaguing the country.
“Paulit-ulit na nating naririnig ang salitang korapsyon nguit ito ay hindi lamang isang salita – ito ay isang sugat na araw-araw ay sumisira sa buhay ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino,” Jaycze Dador of the AVPP Youth Ministry said.
“Ang bawat pisong ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan ay pagkaing nawala sa hapag ng isang pamilyang nagugutom, gamot na nawala sa isang pasyente at oportunidad na nawala sa ating kabataan,” he added.
Edwin Tan of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals stated that as leaders and representatives of different sectors, everyone has an important role to end corruption and other anomalies in government.
“Bilang mga leader whether sa simbahan, sa negosyo o sa civil society, may natatangi tayong responsibilidad. Ang ating mga posisyon at halimbawa ay may malakas na impluwensya,” Tan stated.
“Kapag tayo ay nagiging tahimik o hini tumututol sa mga mali, nagiging bahagi tayo ng problema. Pero kapag tayo ay tumindig at nagsalita, may pag-asa at pagbabago. Kaya ngayon, hinihikayat ko kayo na sana ay makiisa sa isang malinaw na pahayag ng accountability at integrity ay non-negotiable,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Bishop Socrates Mesiona, vicar apostolic of AVPP, stated that the activity aims to raise sentiments and strong condemnation of the wrongs in the government, noting that corruption has long been a problem.
He also said it is about time to call on government leaders to turn their backs against wrongdoings and heed their conscience.
“Ipairal natin ang kultura ng katapatan sa ating pamumuhay. Labanan ang katiwalian. Kamuhian, at hindi dapat na gawing normal ang pandaraya. Maging bahagi ng mga hakbangin tungo sa makatotohanang pagbabago sa ating lipunan,” Mesiona said.
The prelate further noted that corruption is present not only in government but also in other sectors of society where the reforms need to start.
“At bilang Bayan ng Diyos, tayo man ay hinahamon na manguna na maging tapat. Maging tinig nawa ng katotohanan ang bawat isa. Huwag mananahimik sa harap ng katiwalian. Hikayatin ang lahat na huwag maging bulag, bingi, o pipi sa harap ng mali. Alalahanin natin na ang pananahimik ay isang anyo ng pakikiisa sa kasalanan,” he said.
Mesiona also stated that the call and fight to end corruption does not end with the prayer rally but will be a continuing fight.
“Umaasa tayo na hindi ito ang simula at katapusan, patuloy ito dahil kailangan natin ng pagbabago. Walang mangyayari sa ating bansa kung magpapatuloy ang kultura ng pagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan,” he noted.
