Archbishop urges shared responsibility in fight vs corruption

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Archdiocese of Jaro has reminded Filipinos that corruption is not solely the fault of those in power but a collective moral failure that demands shared responsibility and accountability.

Archbishop Midyphil “Dodong” Bermejo Billones said the nation has been “flooded and ravaged” by corruption, which is worsened by society’s tendency to normalize dishonest practices.

“When flooding occurs, it is sad to wake up to the truth that this is correlated not only to the weather but to the corruption around and within us,” he said.

He also warned of the danger of normalizing corruption until it becomes endemic.

“When we allow corruption to become repeated, when we become immune to its shock, when it is accepted as normal in the system of doing things, then it becomes endemic internally in man and externally in society. The flooding that ravages us happens first within and continues on the outside,” he continued.

He stressed that Filipinos must acknowledge their own part in allowing corruption to persist.

“Worse floods that come our way stem from this collective distortion. We humbly take our own share of the blame as we demand accountability from those around us,” he stressed.

The archbishop urged both clergy and laity to confront corruption as a moral crisis, reflect deeply on its impact, and act decisively to break its cycle.

Even so, Billones expressed hope, saying the faithful can overcome the “floods of corruption” by embracing honesty, righteousness, and accountability in both public and private life.

Billones echoed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) pastoral letter on flood-related corruption.

The letter, signed by CBCP President Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, denounces the corruption scandal involving flood control projects that have failed to protect vulnerable communities despite billions of pesos allocated.

The CBCP calls for true justice beyond punishment, including the return of stolen funds for public benefit, and urges vigilance, rejection of patronage politics, and civic engagement for good governance.

The CBCP also questioned the credibility of ongoing investigations by Congress, noting that some lawmakers involved in flood control budget insertions are themselves under scrutiny.

The bishops criticized the insertion of flood control projects into the national budget as “pork barrel” funds, often at the expense of essential education, health, and social programs.

The Catholic Church also appealed to the youth to use social media to expose corruption and demand reforms, framing the fight against corruption as a moral and spiritual imperative as well as a social one.