Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David bared that some Catholic lawmakers allegedly involved in the multi-billion peso flood scandal have approached him for moral and spiritual guidance.
David made the disclosure in an interview with ABS-CBN News anchor Karmina Constantino aired on Saturday, saying that several legislators who were “bothered by their conscience” sought his counsel amid the ongoing probe into the massive flood control fund anomalies.
“Some of them, at some point, get bothered by their conscience also,” said the Cardinal.
David said he would not reveal the identities or the number of lawmakers who confided in him, but confirmed that the personalities came from “both” chambers of Congress — the Senate and the House of Representatives.
When I asked, “What are you willing to admit? Up to what extent? Of course, they were quiet,” the prelate said.
He quoted the guilty-stricken lawmakers as saying, “I know the legal implications of that” he said.
“’Am I ready to face those legal implications?’ Parang gano’n (Something like that), it’s an offer, at least they know they are aware of it,” the Cardinal said.
The disclosure came as the country reels from public outrage over revelations of large-scale corruption in flood control and infrastructure projects allegedly involving billions of pesos in ghost projects, budget insertions, and contractor kickbacks.
David emphasized the moral dimensions of the scandal, saying that corruption, more than climate change or natural disasters, has worsened the country’s flooding woes and the suffering of poor communities.
“It’s not just about the rains or the typhoons. The real disaster is corruption,” he said in earlier statements, reiterating the Church’s call for the return of stolen public funds and accountability among public officials.
David also said the Church must continue to play a prophetic role in addressing moral decay and systemic corruption in Philippine society. “Conversion is possible,” he said, “but it must be followed by restitution and reform.”
