The nation’s Catholic bishops have joined calls for an independent investigation into alleged corruption in the government’s flood-control projects.
In a pastoral letter, they urged the faithful to press for the creation of an independent body to probe the controversy and to demand accountability from those involved.
“Let us insist on legal action, including criminal charges against those guilty of systematically plundering public funds,” the bishops said.
The statement came as both the Senate and the House of Representatives are investigating alleged anomalies in flood-control projects.
But the bishops questioned the credibility of the inquiries, noting that some lawmakers are themselves implicated.
“How credible are these inquiries when the very institutions conducting them are themselves implicated?” they asked.
The pastoral letter warned that corruption threatens the country’s future as much as natural disasters.
“If floodwaters rise because public funds are stolen, the greater flood is corruption itself, drowning our nation’s future,” the bishops said.
