Why Neri did not tell all

I received an email from a friend, with the content supposedly from the Black and White Movement and written by Jun Lozada in October 2007. It explains why Romulo Neri was afraid to tell the Senate during the hearing on the ZTE-NBN deal. There are many reasons stated why Neri was afraid to tell the truth.

Neri was afraid about the expenses of the government during another impeachment proceeding, because more public funds will be spent to buy the silence and favour of the greedy legislators and local executives.

Neri was afraid that the opposition will not pursue a serious impeachment proceedings because they don't want Noli de Castro to become the President in case Arroyo is impeached.

Neri was afraid that the military will not move because the officers are much indebted to Arroyo for their position and the perks that goes with their position.

Neri was afraid that the media will simply wither in the torrents of cash and favors.

Neri was afraid that the businessmen will be reluctant to rock the board of the current economic uptrend.

Neri was afraid that the Civil Society is not tired of mass actions after witnessing two failed EDSA revolutions. Neri was afraid that the middle class is now indifferent to the corruption that goes around them.

Neri was afraid that the Masa, the students, the workers are now too poor and impoverished to be able to afford the time to join mass actions against the abuses of the Arroyo administration.

About the church:
Neri is afraid that even if the Church knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, the Church will still not call for her resignation due to the closeness of Arroyo's trusted lady liason to the Cardinal of Manila who was very effective during the "Hello Garci" crisis. That Arroyo's Religious Affairs Operators have the Bishops firmly in their "donation" graces, as again manifested by the quick rebuttal of the Mindanao Bishops' of the call of their fellow bishops in Luzon who where calling for the resignation of Arroyo just after Arroyo gave them a visit in Mindanao.
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The church is against corruption. But it seems that some of our leaders are "corrupted". How can we be effective in our fight against corruption?

The lay people should take up cudgels to arouse the public

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The lay people should now take up the cudgels and initiate moves to arouse the conscience of the public to make the government accountable for anomalous acts and responsible to all, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said Monday.

"The Church does not advocate violence, but there should be concerted efforts to pressure the culprits to ease out the truth," he said.

The Catholic bishops' leadership has called for “communal action” following Lozada's exposé on the alleged bribes and overpricing involving top public officials in the now scrapped National Broadband Network contract.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Jaro, Iloilo, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the time has come to liberate the country long held "captive" to government corruption.

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When do we move, LAIKO? Let us heed the call of the bishops.... As the lead lay organization, we should initiate in evangelizing and arousing the people against anomalous acts and the people who commit these acts.

CBCP urges ‘communal action’ vs. gov’t corruption

MANILA, February 11, 2008 - The Catholic bishops’ leadership has called on for ‘communal action’ following Rodolfo Lozada’s expose on alleged corruption involving top public officials.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said it’s about time to liberate the country that has long been ‘captive’ to government corruption.

Lagdameo said the “confession” recently made by Lozada and ousted House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. may save people from being “hostage to scandalous and shady government deals.”

“Only the truth, not lies and deceits, will set our country free. This truth challenges us now to communal action,” he said.

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I have yet to hear the statement or direction of the President of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas on this issue. I cannot speak for LAIKO, but I support the call of the bishops for "communal action".  Corruption is one of the main causes of poverty in the Philippines. If we really want to be with the poor, or help the poor, we have to join the fight against corruption.

Do we really love God by loving our neighbors?

The editorial of the recent CBCP monitor in response to the pastoral statement of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines during its 96th Plenary Assembly, states in part:

"How come we have such a long standing and corrupt and corrupting government? How come such dishonest, detestable and distrusted leading public officials now have and continue to hold high elective public offices? How come the leading character in all this composite national catastrophe plus its loyal cohorts and subservient minions afford to continue acting the grand master of the country—with many people cowering in fear, keeping silent, staying still? Why?"

"Something is fundamentally wrong when a supposedly democratic form of government is patently not of the people, neither from the people, nor for the people—but exactly the other way around. Something must be basically wrong with us—the people—who allow such basically anti-people government to continue and rule. Something must be wherefore done by us too—the people—eventually for the purpose of putting moral order—truth, justice and peace—in our dear Philippine society precisely by big lies, glaring injustice and profound disharmony."

"That is precisely why the CBCP echoed the challenging call of the Gospel: “Reform yourselves.” It is not right that we just keep blaming the infamous trio of lying, cheating and stealing by those in government. It is neither enough that we merely complain about the poverty, misery and sickness in many parts of the country as primarily caused by huge, continuous and vulgar government graft and corruption done as a matter of fact. Much less is it about giving in to frustration and despair, to just give up and keep off, to curse or leave the country."

"That is specifically why the CBCP made the disconcerting but awakening conclusion. "We as a people are still devoid of social conscience.” Among other things, this means that we do not really care for our suffering neighbors, our impoverished communities, our divided nation. Reason: We are too preoccupied with our own selves—our private good, our domestic design, our dynastic design."
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... DO WE REALLY LOVE GOD? DO WE REALLY LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS? WHY DON'T WE ACT NOW?......