An open letter to our bishops

The Catholic Bishops‘ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has encouraged the faithful to wear white on Sundays. As Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David remarked in a recent letter, white symbolizes purity, which is sadly lacking in our society. Since the flood control project controversy, there has been an urgent call for transparency, accountability, and good governance.

I would like to propose that the CBCP take steps to create a truth and justice commission similar to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which in 1995 was tasked to investigate human rights violations during the apartheid era. It allowed victims to share their stories and for the perpetrators, who were granted amnesty, a chance to confess their abuses.

Our nation can benefit from a similar commission, which would allow those who have committed plunder to acknowledge their wrongdoings. They would be required to return the ill-gotten billions. Elected officials who have violated their oaths of office would need to promise that they will not run for public office again.

We keep on saying “tama na, sobra na,” but nothing concrete has ever happened. The masterminds, who are caught red-handed with their hands in the coffers, just disappear, only to reappear from self-exile when our collective memory forgets.

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Early start

The CBCP can lead us by the hand and can use its influence over our government to push for this commission so we can really achieve truth and justice.

Danielle Marie S Lizares,
planetmercury33@yahoo.com