(July 13, 2011) Philippines — Over 150 individuals launched the Bantay Bishop movement to support the Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigation on the 7 Pajero Bishops allegedly bribed by ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The individuals come from different organizations, including Filipino Freethinkers, Likhaan, Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, Watchbiatches, Pink Rockers, and Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood. Individual supporters include Carlos Celdran and Dr. Sylvia Claudio.
“We’re here to remind everyone that even bishops can be criminals, too,” said Red Tani, spokesman of Bantay Bishop. “Criminals must be brought to justice, even if they’re leaders of religious organizations.”
The demonstration featured 7 activists, each wearing a costume that resembles a bishop riding an SUV. The costumes were dubbed “Mitsubishop Montero,” “Nissan SaPari,” and “StraDamaso,” alluding to the brands of the SUVs received by the bishops.
“The costumes represent the hypocrisy of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy,” said Tani. “They claim to be pro-poor. But by accepting PCSO funds, they rob the poor of resources reserved for them. They claim to be anti-corruption. But they accepted bribes from a corrupt president, refrained from asking her to resign, and kept quiet about this bribery until forced to confess by someone else. They claim to be pro-life. But by delaying the passage of the RH Bill, they indirectly cause thousands of deaths.”
In addition to highlighting the hypocrisy of the CBCP, Bantay Bishop asked the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to do three things:
“(1) The bishops must be treated like any other Filipino citizen — no more, no less. Recent statements from Sen. Enrile and Sen. Drilon imply that bishops will be treated more carefully than other individuals suspected of corruption. But it’s this special standing that allows corruption to continue because everyone assumes their innocence. It can be difficult to recognize wolves in shepherds’ clothing.
“(2) If found guilty, the bishops must be punished accordingly. In addition to the separation of church and state mandated by our Constitution, the bishops also violated RA No.3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which states that it is “unlawful for any person knowingly to induce or cause any public official to commit” corrupt practices, of which allocating PCSO funds for the bishops’ SUVs is included.
“(3) In addition to following through with this investigation to its conclusion, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee must launch an investigation into other illegal donations that, according to the bishops themselves, have become standard practice since Cory’s administration. The investigation only covers 2007-2009, a mere two years; there are two decades of “donations” yet to be uncovered. We believe that the 7 SUVs are just the tip of the iceberg.
Bantay Bishop will continue to observe the Senate Blue Ribbon investigation and publish commentary on its channels. “We need to guard the bishops because they have shown that they will not guard themselves,” said Tani. “But whatever the result of the investigation we already know this: the CBCP does not occupy the moral high ground.”
If you support the movement, join Bantay Bishop on Facebook. If you’d like more information about this, or to schedule an interview with Red Tani, please send an email to [email protected] or visit our contact page.
Mga hinahangaang katoto't kaakibat sa malayang kasipan ng Pilipinas! Bagamat sang-ayon ako sa inyong kasawian sa nakasususlasok na pagkampi ng mga manghihimod pwet na senado natin sa ating mga opisbong binibigyang pabor ng PCSO, pagbigyang nating pagmuni-munihan ating pagkadapa sa na isa sanang magandang pagkakataon na pagtibayin ang ating adhikain sa harap ng madlang bayan. KAILANGAN natin ng sarili nating pananaliksik, paninigurado ng mga datos, yung pagkalap ng tamang papeles at paghihikahos na makapanayam at makakuha ng kopya ng mga documento sa mga taong sangkot sa kaso. Kasi totoo nga naman, medyo naging bitin ang pagbuhos natin ng ating kakayahan sa paninigurado at pagpapatibay sa detalye ng kaso. Tunay ngang may isa sa kanilang nakapuslit ng Montero, L300, Nissan at kung ano ano pa. Pero hindi ito Pajero. At kahit ga-butingting lang na kawalang patunay sa isang pambibintang, lalo na sa mga kinauukulan panginoong obispo ng hinayupak na bansang ito ng mga sipsip na alagad na batas, tumba tayo. Hindi sa hindi tayo tama, as in righteous. Hindi lang tayo naging tama as in accurate. Tiwali sila, pero kailangan ata sila banatan ng mas detalyadong Mapangusisang Pamamahayag (Investigative Journalism) bago pa tayo makapagtaguyod na publikong demonstrasyon. Pagpulutan natin ito ng aral, mga kawani sa bagwisan ng malayang kaisipan! Babangon tayo muli, pero kilalanin muna kung saan tayo nadapa. Tandaan! Mas lalong napatatalas ang agham at katuwiran sa tuwing gumagawa ito ng bagong pagkilos mula sa pagkilala nito ang mga kamalian ng nakaraan, imbes na pagpilitan lamang ang kinasanayan na.
PCSO – Pa Car Sa mga Obispo!!! Pwe!!!
In the wake of the revelation that only one of the 7 bishops truly received a brand-new upper-end vehicle, it is appropriate to tone down the rhetoric on the "Pajero 7." This is to ensure that whatever facts that can be taken from the event be brought to light without preconceived notions or judgments. As freethinkers, it is necessary for us to accept truth if presented, and as revealed, it is unfair to continually insist that there is a "Pajero 7." This however does not exempt the culpability of the bishops and officials (past or present) involved in a possibly anomalous, unlawful and corrupt transaction and those proven to be of actions that have hampered the operations of PCSO by draining resources that could have been used to assist those truly in need must face justice, with fairness and equality regardless of status or position in the government or church.
mmm, I'm still weighing it in my mind whether it somehow takes the sting somewhat, reading from the latest reports that it wasn't all Pajeros but was actually varying brands, makes, and models of SUV's they got (or bought from the money they got). At least hindi lahat "luxury" vehicles.
But a freebie is still a freebie, for whatever purpose. A secular government shouldn't give 1-million vehicles to specific religious orgs (even for "charity" purposes) without giving the same benefits to ALL other religious or non-religious NGO's who also do charity work because it clearly shows favoritism on their part.
Add this to your placards:
Judas killed himself for bribery.
Jesus chose a donkey. Bishops chose SUVs
buti pa si Judas marunong mahiya…
Jesus was sold for 30 silver. WE were sold for SUVs.
Judas at least had the sense of shame to hang himself after that. I've love to see the bishops express the same degree of genuine remorse for their actions, if you know what I mean 😀
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
… but if you have an SUV, you can just run over the needle and the camel to drive to the kingdom of god, wheeee!
"I need my SUV to reach the moral high ground."
Head shot! But then again, those bishops barely use their heads, so they lose nothing.