Albay bishop speaks out: rallying cry vs corruption
- Bicolmail Web Admin
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
By Rhaydz B. Barcia
LEGAZPI CITY --- “Enough of farm-to-pocket roads. Enough of the normalization of plunder of our nation’s wealth by officials who have betrayed the public trust and enriched themselves in office,” declared Bishop Joel “Bong” Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, as he urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to hold accountable all those involved in corruption, particularly in connection to multibillion-peso ghost and substandard flood control projects.
The bishop’s strong condemnation was delivered through a pastoral letter read during the Peace Ride and Rally for Change at the Albay Cathedral in Legazpi City and in Sunday Masses across the province. He also presided over a Mass at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral on Saturday afternoon, following a province-wide caravan rally initiated by the Diocese of Legazpi through its Social Action Center.
“We protest the normalization of plunder by officials who betrayed the public trust and enriched themselves in office. We protest the billions of pesos in public funds lost to corruption—funds that should have built our nation and delivered basic services to our people. We protest the flood of lies and disinformation that erode trust in our institutions and prevent the public from discerning the truth,” the bishop declared.
A Call for Meaningful Change
Baylon called on public officials and all Filipinos to work together for genuine reform and collective action.
“Let us work together for meaningful change. Let us take a stand against corruption wherever it is found and demand accountability from those who allegedly used public funds for personal gain—especially if they come from our place,” he said. “We call on authorities to build solid cases and prosecute those involved the soonest.”
Empowering Citizens Through the Bantay Project To support this call, Baylon tasked the Diocesan Commission on Social Concerns and the Social Action Center – Legazpi to partner with local stakeholders in launching a citizen-led monitoring initiative, dubbed the BANTAY PROJECT. The program will oversee government projects in the province, report irregularities, and ensure that public funds genuinely serve the common good.
“Never again to farm-to-pocket roads. Never again to projects undertaken without consultation. Never again to developments that benefit the powerful while harming the environment and displacing local communities,” Baylon emphasized.
He also appealed to Local Government Units (LGUs) to provide online access to transparency reports, especially concerning infrastructure projects and quarry operations. A Nationwide People’s Lobby On a national level, Baylon invited Filipinos to support a People’s Lobby to push Congress and the President to enact comprehensive “corruption-control laws”, which include: Anti-Political Dynasty and Nepotism Act:
To implement the constitutional ban on political dynasties Expanded Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act: To exempt public officials from bank secrecy, require lifestyle checks, protect and incentivize whistleblowers, and empower the government to freeze and recover ill-gotten wealth Freedom of Information and Open Government Act: To guarantee citizen access to government data, mandate full digitalization, and enable real-time online disclosure of budgets, procurement, and officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) Participatory Budgeting and Citizen Audit Act: To grant citizens a binding role in budgeting through Local Development Councils and assemblies, mandate community consultations, and curb last-minute pork barrel insertions in the national budget Calling on the Youth Baylon issued a special appeal to the younger generation, encouraging them to be active participants in civic life and to help build a better future.
“In a special way, I would like to address the youth. I invite you to participate actively in these endeavors so you may grow in love for our country and learn the ways of genuine democracy. When your time comes to lead, may you not repeat the mistakes of the generations before you, but create a version of our nation better than what we have now.”
Protest to Prayer and Action
The bishop urged everyone to not only protest but to pray, repent, and act.
“Even as we pray for the conversion of our leaders, let us also reflect on our own actions. Let us seek forgiveness if we have tolerated corruption—especially if we benefited from it,” Baylon said. He recalled how the last elections were marred by massive vote buying and selling, often using money stolen from the people.
He called on the faithful to recite the National Cry for Mercy and Renewal, a prayer proposed by the bishops, and to open their hearts to the cries of the poor, the sick, the youth, and communities affected by calamities and neglect. Before ending his pastoral message, Baylon referenced a song by the late folk singer Coritha to rekindle the nation’s love for truth and justice.
“This reminds me of a hauntingly beautiful song by the late Pinoy folk singer Coritha entitled Habilin. Let us transform our righteous indignation against injustice and plunder into a commitment to do the necessary works of reform.”
“Let us hold on to hope that does not disappoint, knowing that we follow in the steps of our Lord, who came to serve and not to be served. Let our faith lead us to lives of truthfulness, integrity, accountability, and deep compassion for the least among us.”
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