• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The One Negros Ecumenical Council (One-C), which led the “Trillion Peso March” indignation rally from the Capitol Lagoon to the Bacolod public plaza Sept. 21, called on Congress and oversight bodies to hasten anti-corruption investigations and ensure accountability.
Fr. Aniceto Buenafe of One-C, in his speech in front of the Government Center replica at the plaza, said that corruption is not only about the billions of pesos stolen, but also of flooded houses and properties, of environmental degradation, and lost opportunities for youth.
“Gapanawagan kita sa mga legislators, oversight bodies, kag mga imbestigador nga paspasan, dali-on ang imbestigasyon kag accountability; siguraduhon nga ang mga kontrata sang gobyierno, wala sang bahid sa pagpangawat,” Buenafe stressed. “Ang pumuluyo nagapangita sang matuod-tuod nga solusyon, indi lahug-lahug o bungkag nga pulong, indi drama sa politika, indi padugay-dugay nga taktika.”
He urged those who joined the protest, including the academe, church, transport and labor, and the youth, among others, to stand for truth, justice, and accountability. “Manindugan kita para sa kamatuoran, hustisya, kag pagbag-o. Magbinuligay kita sa pagtukod sang isa ka pungsod nga matarong, kag may konsensya.”
Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, in an earlier statement, said the recent scandals that surfaced, such as reports of “ghost projects”, the misuse of public funds, and ostentatious displays of wealth “have once again revealed how greed and dishonesty seep into the very structures meant to protect and uplift our people”.
“These social plagues are not only political issues. They are moral wounds that deeply cut into the life and future of our nation. Corruption betrays the covenant of justice…it robs the poor of their dignity, denies workers their rightful share of the good life, and mocks the sacrifice and hard work of honest Filipino citizens,” Buzon stressed. “We cannot remain silent. It is our right to ask for transparency and accountability from the people we have elected to lead us.”
Aside from anti-corruption calls, other groups that joined the indignation rally also called for the jailing of corrupt government officials, a stop to the jeepney modernization program, no to oil price hike, and increase in salary, among others.
A peace rally, meanwhile, was also held at the Bacolod public plaza simultaneous with the indignation protest, with around 50 individuals calling for vigilance against communist-terrorist groups. | CGC
