Consumers Domain
Questions on envelopes, bishops, and impeachment...
"Talk is cheap and lies are expensive."
--from "Walking Contradiction" by Green Day
I want to react strongly against the way Malacañang elevates corruption to an even higher notch. I could hardly believe the nerve that even on the eve of the CBCP's plenary, Gloria Arroyo still has its "special operations" mentality on high gear.
What made matters worse is that some bishops accepted the cash, sanitized as "for anti-poverty efforts in your parish" (read: bribe), and sees nothing wrong with it!
In my incense, I couldn't find the appropriate words to write my opinion and arguments. I ended up with asking so many questions instead -- questions that flooded my mind as I grasped for an appropriate approach to start this article. I passionately want to give my answers to these questions but then I thought -- I know you could answer them easily yourselves.
So the following are some questions that I want you to ponder on.
Is it appropriate for bishops to receive envelopes containing cash from Malacañang on the eve of their meeting to discuss their position on the impeachment of Gloria Arroyo?
Can you even believe that some bishops are that naïve and would really think that there is nothing wrong with receiving money from Malacañang on that particular occasion?
Isn't it that as high respected leaders of the Church people expect nothing less than the highest standards of integrity from the bishops? That their independence and credibility on a very important issue are of supreme importance that cannot be sacrificed for any amount of cash, no matter how noble their intentions are?
Can you smell something fishy why representatives of Malacañang would suddenly approach the bishops, several even on unscheduled meetings, discuss anti-poverty (kuno) and hand out cash right before the CBCP assembly?
Is this how lowly Malacañang look down on the public -- that we would simply believe their anti-poverty-through-the-parishes-line-of-reasoning hook, line and sinker?
Is that how some bishops also view the people -- that we do not have the capacity to discern the implications and connotation of their actions?
Did those cash gifts affected the position of several bishops? Did it soften their stance against the anomalies and corruption of the fake Arroyo administration?
How now can these bishops look us straight in the eye and say, humans as they are, that their position and stance were not in ANY way affected by a bribe sanitized by anti-poverty-ek-ek?
Raul Gonzales reasoned out that her boss is sort of distrustful of LGU officials as they were inclined to promoting "self-interests" that is why it is better to give directly to the bishops. If this is indeed what Arroyo and Gonzales believe, why then did they asked Congress for P1.8 billion for Kalayaan Barangay Program Fund and P3.35 billion for the Kilos Asenso Support Fund, practically pork-barrel funds for the LGUs, in the 2006 Budget?
Are Arroyo and Gonzales now admitting that the government is not capable of implementing anti-poverty programs that's why it is better to distribute cash to the bishops? Or this is another double talk of Malacañang to be consistent with their script?
Do we have a capacity to audit and account all those cash donations, which came from the Filipino taxpayers by the way in case you forget?
How can the people now differentiate bishops from trapos (traditional politicians) if both use this same excuse for accepting a clear bribe -- that there is nothing wrong with it for they will "spend it for the poor" anyway?
How now can these bishops assert that their position is TOTALLY driven by the search for the truth and ensure the highest respect from their parishioners and the Filipino people in general?
It is not that we don't trust the bishops but aren't these exactly the kinds of actions that tarnish their integrity?
Isn't this event a picture of the same corrupt practice that Gloria Arroyo has mastered to cheat her way through the 2004 elections and ensure her stay in power despite all the anomalies and corruption, despite the widespread call for her impeachment?
Now, when will you start getting angry?
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