Whistle-blower killing, end corruption: Church in action

By Reni M. Valenzuela

What is long life if it is lived in selfishness and greed, and inhumanity?

Another Filipino modern hero was murdered in the person of the 40-year-old lawyer (with a soul) who stood up against corruption – whistle-blower, Niruh Kyle Antatico. But heroes don’t die, and they don’t die in vain.

A young American activist/preacher was assassinated recently in an attempt to silence and stop him from advocating and proclaiming righteousness and godliness in school campuses and elsewhere, but the culprits/killers were dead wrong.

Brilliant, Spirit-filled Charlie Kirk was unstoppable and is unstoppable even in death. His voice lingers and continues to reverberate even more greatly, widely and forcefully nowadays, not only in his country, but all over the world — more than ever.

Heroes are giants whose benevolent, gallant exploits echo from generation to generation. They think less of themselves because they think more of others, willing to put their lives on the line for a higher purpose — in a bigger world. Heroes usually die at young age, yet they die great.  They are selfless, courageous, passionate, noble men who leave this life with memories of them that will never leave the world. Heroes are immortals.

The God-man Jesus Christ was crucified (virtually) at age 30 and died (actually) at 33, yet He lives forever (and ever) in Heaven and on earth from the day He resurrected 2,000 years ago – until now.

Ninoy Aquino was gunned down at 50. Jose Rizal was martyred at 35, Andres Bonifacio at 33, Apolinario Mabini at 38, Martin Luther King at 39, Alexei Navalny at 47, and Charlie Kirk at 32. They were all killed, murdered, assassinated, martyred – but never have died. They live forever. Abel was murdered by his brother Cain, but Abel did not die even as a dead man. Here’s what the Bible says about him: “… And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” – Hebrews 11:4

While writing this piece, I asked ChatGPT, “At what age did Charlie Kirk die?” It answered: “As of now, Charlie Kirk is still alive.”

When churches turn a blind eye to killings, crookedness, evils and injustice, they become temples of silence and apathy, and folly – fountains of dusk and dimness, deceptiveness and destructiveness – all in their passive, hushed, quiet, dumb, deaf roles and “devil may care” posture as unfeeling, merciless, stony, selfish, callous souls, if souls they have.

You cannot have the best of both worlds and be a Christian/disciple of Christ. You can only have God’s will and God’s calling upon your life to submit to and live by – under all conditions and situations so that you may be brought to His best or to the best that life can offer you, with the Cross on your shoulder – in the service of God and fellowmen. Luke 22:42, Matthew 16:24. There is no such thing as “double life” for genuine people of God.

I was heartened to read the indignant letter (“When whistle-blowers are silenced, corruption wins,” Sun Star, 16 October 2025) of Catholic Bishop Colin M. Bagaforo, President of Caritas Philippines and Bishop of Kidapawan.

He wrote: “It is with deep grief and righteous anger that we condemn the brutal murder of Niruh Kyle Antatico, a former legal researcher of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), who was killed in Cagayan de Oro on Oct.10, 2025. Mr. Antatico, a courageous whistleblower, had exposed alleged anomalies in NIA projects and received death threats even before his murder. His killing is not only an attack on one man — it is an attack on all Filipinos who dare to hold power to account.”

Further, the angry Bishop pounded, “Justice for Kyle means not only punishing his murderers but also uncovering the truth behind the misuse of irrigation funds meant for farmers — funds that could have secured livelihoods, strengthened food production, and offered dignity to rural families. The farmers of our nation deserve irrigation systems that give life, not corruption that drains it away.”

In this connection, I remember the article that I have written during the height of PDAF and pork barrel scam controversy under P’Noy’s administration. The piece was published by Philippine Star on July 18, 2011. It was entitled, “Whistle-blowers face tougher battles.” Let me quote in part from that said article/letter to the editor:

“… these gallant souls (whistle-blowers) have already their bust sculpted in my heart for they are true heroes in the mold of those who bravely fought for our liberty from invading enemies outside. The difference though is that whistle-blowers have tougher battles to engage with: To liberate all of us — from invading enemies inside.”

I am not a Catholic, but (praise God!) neither am I blind, numb, cold indifferent and apathetic to the world around me as a born-again Christian. The Catholic church appears to be a church in action as indeed she is. And this is not doctrinal. It’s practical Christianity. It is real. Eat your dogmas and theologies (and “logo”), dear dead churches. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – James 2:26

How many Christian zombies (living dead) do we have in this world today?

The Church has proven (time and again) and continues to prove herself to be a church that has a heart, body, soul and spirit for the people, society, country and the world (and God) — a relevant Body of Christ, defiant to government abuses, crookedness and ruthlessness.

No church is silent, self-serving and subservient to evil authorities, much less to sanctioned evils. Doing the opposite is not “obedience” and “submission” to government power based on biblical injunctions (Romans 13:1, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:13).

Only false churches are concerned ONLY about their respective, exclusive, peculiar, individual, parochial concerns, interests, programs and agenda. Outside and beyond those, they just bring all to “prayer.” Delusive. Vainglorious.

“Basta kami, tutok lang sa ‘diyos,’ tutok sa panalangin, sa pagsamba, pagpapayaman, pagpapalaki, pagpapasasa at pagpapabongga.” – Modern, state-of-the-art, latter-day churches / apostasy.

Soulless. A truly prayerful church has feet and hands, and a heart and goes out of its tiny, puny, midget, blinding, maddening religious shells – to be inconvenienced and be involved in a world larger than life and “logo.” Luke 10:25-37. The Church isn’t just proclaiming what Christ did. The Church is what Christ is doing in society (as He once did) like He is flesh and blood living among us today.

Let this be known to all murderers and robbers (corrupt): No single one among them is heaven-bound when they die – unless they repent. “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile (corrupt), the murderers, the sexually immoral… and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8

“When whistleblowers are silenced, corruption wins. When truth is punished, democracy bleeds. But when justice is done, life and hope are renewed.” – Bishop Bagaforo

“But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” – Luke 23:28

“Long live Filipinos! Long live Philippines!”

End corruption.

Email: renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com