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Panlilio to resurrect morality in government
source : ABS-CBN.com   
Tuesday, 16 October 2007 16:11
{mosimage}The Philippines needs someone like Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio to help raise the morality in the government, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said, a report on the ABS-CBN late night newscast Bandila said.

As such, the bishops in the CBCP are making no bones about supporting Panlilio and his revelation about the half a million peso "cash gift" he allegedly received while at a meeting in Malacañang last Thursday.

Panlilio’s confession about the gift, which he said he received in a plain gift bag, was also supported by Bulacan governor Joselito Mendoza, who said he received the same. Panlilio and Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza both admitted receiving P500,000 each from a purported staff member of Malacañang. They said the money was placed in paper bags and handed to them following a meeting in Malacañang.

The two governors admitted they do not know where the money came from but stressed they will inquire from Malacañang.

The CBCP said that although the cash handed to Panlilio was being called a "cash gift," it was still a bribe especially as its purposes and origins were never made clear to the former priest.

CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo himself said in a report in The Philippine Star that the "unscrupulous use of money" by Malacañang indicates that "our country is not only suffering from economic bankruptcy but also moral bankruptcy."

Lagdameo said the distribution of cash gifts was obvious bribery on the part of Malacañang and is fraught with many unanswered questions.

"What was the purpose of the cash gifts? Where did the money come from? Who was the personal source of the cash? Were they (cash gifts) for local government projects? Were they for the forthcoming barangay elections? Why were they distributed only to pro-administration local officials? Why not also to the opposition? Who ultimately will profit from these cash gifts?" Lagdameo asked.

"With this sort of thing happening... (this behavior) disappointingly being shown by our leaders, we are very much concerned with our youth who are looking at our leaders for models of honesty, integrity, and transparency," Lagdameo said in a statement.

Citing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church used by the Vatican in catechism or the teaching of Christian principles, Lagdameo argued bribery is never justified as it goes against common desire for transparency and honesty.

"The more people and social groups strive to resolve social problems according to the truth, the more they distance themselves from abuses and act in accordance with the objective demands of truth. The unscrupulous use of money raises ever more pressing questions, which necessarily call for greater transparency and honesty in personal and social activity," he said.

But Lagdameo criticized Panlilio for receiving the cash gift.

"From the moral standpoint, one should not accept money about which questions can be asked because it renders responsibility, accountability, and transparency a dubious subject matter," the CBCP head stressed.

Speculations surfaced that Malacañang had distributed P200,000 to P500,000 to 190 congressmen and some local officials after separate meetings with President Arroyo last Thursday.

The money reportedly was given to the congressmen in exchange for the transmittal of the alleged weak impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roel Pulido against Mrs. Arroyo.

Some congressmen admitted receiving the money but denied it was a bribe.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 October 2007 16:12 )
 
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