The Cebu Archdiocese will hold a communal action, or celebrate a Mass, at 7p.m. tomorrow at the Redemptorist Church to convey its appeal for the truth about the country’s pervading corruption, specifically on the recent controversy over the NBN-ZTE deal.
Dilaab Movement leader, Fr. Carmelo Diola, through the archdiocesan weekly publication “Ang Bag-ong Lungsoranon,” has called on all faithful to attend the activity, dubbed as “Mass for the Search for Truth,” saying that prayers are the starting point of any action against corruption.
Diola said the activity follows the call of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal “to let the truth come out whatever it is or whoever will be hurt,” and that of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines to hold communal actions as ways of the public to overcome the present crisis.
The Senate investigation must be directed to ferret out the truth and to prosecute those found guilty of corruption, Vidal had said earlier, adding that the government must respect this quest for truth.
According to CBCP, the truth in the allegations of Rodolfo Lozada and former speaker Jose de Venecia will be essential in combating graft and corruption.
The Lungsoranon editorial also stated that the recent testimony of Lozada even added new terminologies to the public’s vocabulary of corruption. These are “moderate the greed” and “permissible zone.”
“Moderate the greed” refers to the alleged order given to Lozada by more powerful officials who wanted to have a share of the multi-billion pesos NBN-ZTE transaction.
“Permissible zone” was Lozada’s personal description on the acceptable limit of the amount that a government official must receive in every government transaction, and that any amount that exceeds this amount must be denounced.
This prompted “Lungsoranon” to comment that while Lozada had the courage to stand up and admit the exchange of money in officials’ hands in the ZTE deal, he also confirmed the existence of the country’s corrupt activities involving commissions for government officials for every government transaction.
“Ang pangilkil og komisyon usa na ka akseptadong pagbansay, basta lang di palabian o kaha di masakpan,” said “Lungsoranon” in describing Lozada’s testimonies. — Ferliza C. Contratista/RAE