Bishops warn vs ‘whitewash’ in flood control probe

By Roy Lagarde/CBCP News

The country’s Catholic bishops on Monday, Oct. 6, warned against any ‘whitewash’ in the investigation of alleged corruption in flood control projects.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged lawmakers and Malacañang to allow the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to conduct its probe “thoroughly, transparently, and without fear or favor.”

“We strongly oppose any attempt to preempt or derail the investigation through backroom deals, leadership takeovers, or selective justice,” the bishops said in a statement.

The CBCP also warned any move to change Senate leadership or redirect the inquiry would “only heighten public suspicion of a cover-up.”

“A nation cannot heal when its moral arteries are clogged by corruption and self-interest,” the bishops said.

They called on all public officials to uphold the integrity of the inquiries, stressing that the ICI was created to restore public trust and must be “empowered to investigate fully and freely, without political interference from any branch of government.”

Among the bishops’ key demands are transparency in the ICI’s proceedings and findings, access to documents and witnesses, full disclosure of budget insertions, and protection for whistleblowers and technical personnel who come forward in good faith.

“No to a whitewash. Yes to full accountability,” the CBCP said. “Only through truth can our nation begin to rebuild trust and ensure that flood control no longer becomes another flood of corruption.”

Calling the probe a “defining moment for public accountability,” the bishops urged both Congress and the Palace to prove they serve “the common good, not partisan power.”

“The Filipino people are watching closely,” the CBCP said.

The statement was released ahead of the CBCP-initiated National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance, Tuesday, Oct. 7, amid the nation’s continued struggles with calamities and corruption.

The bishops urged parishes, chapels, schools, families, and church organizations to join the observance, which coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.