Our country once more stands in shock at the revelation of the extent of corruption, bribery, and violation of human rights, in the government.  We are numbed and dispirited at the seemingly endless stream of controversial cases involving public officials in the highest rungs of governance and power acting as predators to our hapless people, who are ultimately the victims of corruption in government.

But even as we feel this way, we see a ray of light, and remain hopeful, with the emergence of persons who, braving grave risks to themselves and their families have come out and spoken the truth.  This leads the way for us to get involved meaningfully in ferreting out the truth, in giving moral support, in partnering with them, and in strongly expressing our demand for accountability from government.  We can no longer remain quiet or stand in the sidelines unaffected by all this.

The likes of Fr. Ed Panlilio, governor of Pampanga, Mr. Rodolfo Lozada Jr., among others, stand out as our modern-day prophets in flesh and blood, buckling the destructive power brokers that sap our nation of strength and hope.  Their moral courage invites us to be in solidarity with them and join our individual efforts together in transforming our society. That we too may become prophets in this critical time in our history as a people.

We in the Magis Deo Community, therefore, earnestly and strongly appeal to the President and her official family, including perhaps her personal family, the Congress, and the Courts, to be of one mind and spirit in heeding our people’s cry for justice, genuine reforms, and morality in public service.  Only then can our people begin to trust again and become part of the solution to our manifold problems.

In closing permit us to offer the following concrete steps that hopefully can trigger action from our national leadership, and from our people as well.

• For Malacañang to allow the truth to come out, whoever gets hurt, by giving clearance to its people involved in all alleged graft cases not only to testify but to tell the truth and make available all evidence necessary for their successful prosecution.  This will bring closure to these cases that have continuously frayed the moral fabric of our society.
• For our Senators and Congressmen/Congresswomen to be able to rise above narrow partisan politics and the seductions of power and once more become genuine representatives of our people, listening and responding to their needs.

• For our people to:
• Consistently write to their respective congressmen,
•  and senators, as well, and disavow support for them if they fail to pursue and sustain efforts at moral recovery in their actions as our representatives.
• Monitor actions of Malacañang, Congress, the different line departments, and law enforcement agencies, on how they pursue or violate the people’s interests, by networking with like-minded and like-hearted people in these offices, with civil society, the Church, media, business, other public interests groups, and with our people at large, to create deeper broad-based awareness and unified action in this regard.
• Demand, attend, and support public hearings on cases that have direct bearing on the public interest, while relentlessly pursuing credible closures on these cases.
• Exercise vigilance by documenting and reporting even the smallest acts of graft and corruption, and violation of human rights, such as those taking place in local government units, the police, BIR, Customs, LTO, and other instrumentalities of government, ever mindful of our social conscience.

Let us be inspired by what the late US Senator Robert Kennedy once said, “Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.  And crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

And finally, in full support of the stand of the CBCP for communal action to serve the cause of truth, we enjoin all families in this our beloved country to come together and hold prayer meetings, vigils, and rallies to commend to God our fervent hope for a better Philippines where justice and love bring about peace and prosperity for all our people.

(Sgd.) Levy and Roxanne Espiritu                                                                                  (Sgd.) Ed and Claire P. Palma
  Chaircouple, Pastoral Council                                                                                        Social Advocacy Committee

                                                                         (Sgd.) Rev. Fr. Ruben M. Tanseco, S.J.
                                                                                          Spiritual Director