Churches as donees of ill-gotten wealth

A small piece of good news amidst the flood and tsunami of bad. I read in Radio Veritas Asia and other sites that the Parish of San Pascual Baylon—National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Salambao in Obando, Bulacan has announced that a donated Nissan Navara pickup will be returned to its donor. The bleeding-heart donor is none other than Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) former OIC regional director Henry Alcantara, who is on the list of the first 21 persons who will face charges of graft, bribery, and malversation of public funds for alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. You may read the full Inquirer banner story online: see “21 face raps: Lawmakers, DPWH execs, contractors.” (9/27/25)

On the list besides Alcantara are three senators—Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada—as well as former Sen. Bong Revilla, Ako Bicol party list Rep. Zaldy Co, former Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, Carleen Villa, businessman Maynard Ngu, et. al. The list will become longer.

As to the Nissan Navara, the parish council said in its social media post that the vehicle was turned over to the parish on June 1, 2024. It was accepted “in good faith” to be used as a transport vehicle for the Virgin of Salambao image when it visits different parishes. The council explained: “It was given wholeheartedly, and we accepted it without judgment on the intention of the giver.” Imagine the Birhen ng Salambao onboard a vehicle of suspicious origins. I had attended a fiesta in Obando, where childless couples dance on the streets and pray to be blessed with children. Salambao is a native contraption used by fishermen.

Given the quicksand of their own making that the likes of Alcantara and his ilk are in, the parish council decided: “We are now taking the necessary steps to return it properly, to the rightful person, or institution, through the appropriate legal process. This decision follows the guidance of the Diocese of Malolos and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.” It added that “If this caused concern to the Church and the faithful, we sincerely apologize.”

Bulacan was the epicenter of the corruption in flood control projects that came to light last month following massive flooding in the province and elsewhere, and the staggering wealth of DPWH-linked contractors whose misdeeds continue to be exposed. Billions of people’s money has gone into the pockets of a few who thought nothing of what their greed has wrought on millions of Filipinos who suffered immensely, not only in Bulacan but all over the Philippines, citizens deprived of the services they deserved.

On donations to churches, charitable organizations, and the like, one would expect that these groups are the most likely beneficiaries of excess wealth, be it ill-gotten or hard-earned. Pampalinis ng konsiyensia (to cleanse one’s conscience), as the saying goes. As to the recipients of purloined largesse, the churches especially, shouldn’t there be a way for the church leaders to know where the huge donations are coming from? Especially if these are delivered in the form of cash. Can’t the beneficiaries demand checks for, say, more than P20,000 instead of mounds of cash? This way, there would be a money trail in case…

It had been reported that a religious formation house and seminary for a locally founded religious congregation for men had received donations from Janet Napoles. The “pork barrel queen” is now serving time for several crimes at the Women’s Correctional.

Remember the sport utility vehicles that were given to unsuspecting bishops during the Arroyo presidency? “Unsuspecting,” if we give them the benefit of the doubt. The SUV donations gave rise to the word “Mitsubishops” (derived from Mitsubishi, the car manufacturer) that tarnished the image of shepherds of the flock. That is the Pinoy way of getting even—by ridicule. If I remember right, some bishops did try to return the SUVs.

Pope Leo XIV, when he was bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, was said to buy secondhand vehicles and fix them so his priests could use them in their ministries. Here was an Augustinian friar who served as prior general of his order twice over and with a doctorate in canon law, doing his bit as a car mechanic.

Years ago, a friend of a certain age, now deceased, confided in me that a lawmaker known to her personally asked her if he could channel money through a foundation which she was part of. Money laundering, what else. She politely said no. No theatrics, just no.

With the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu two days ago and claimed the lives of 72 (as of this writing), one could not help but wonder if lives were lost also because of substandard public infrastructure.

There are many ways to be corrupt, but there are also many ways not to be.

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