A PRIEST’S homily at the start of the “Pray for the Philippines” rally was a strong condemnation of corruption, transparency, and accountability in the government.
The sermon was delivered during a mass that opened the protest at San Pedro Square.
The priest began by explaining the political nature of his message, stating it resonated with the day’s readings. “My start was very political, my introduction was very political because, in my reflection, it would somehow resonate with our readings this Sunday,” he said.
He then posed a series of questions to the congregation, directly addressing issues of misused public funds.
“What do you call people who meddle with money that is not theirs? The Church is not turning a blind eye to the situation in our country, where there may be people in power with a lack of transparency and a lack of accountability, especially with the flood control project issues we are facing now,” the priest said.
He then questioned the existence of “ghost projects,” which have budgets but show no visible work. “Where did the money for the budgeted project go?” he asked, linking the issue to a “question of accountability, question of transparency, [and the] reality of corruption.”
The priest also voiced frustration with the conflicting reports from government officials. “When I listen to television, on social media, in the hearings in the House, and the hearings in the Senate, all they do is blame and deny. We are left to wonder, who is telling the truth? What is the real truth?” he said.
He concluded his homily with a somber reflection on the difficulty of finding the truth amidst the political noise. “It makes us feel sad because in our search for the truth, we may no longer find it.”
The priest’s remarks set a political tone for the rally, where participants carried signs with anti-corruption messages.
