BALANGA City – The St. Joseph Cathedral here on Wednesday held Holy Masses in the morning and in the afternoon in support of the “EDSA Tayo,” a movement that calls for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.
Bishop Ruperto C. Santos of the Diocese of Balanga who officiated in the 5:15 p.m. Holy Mass said that the Masses will bring to God the people’s contrition for the sin of corruption that plagues the country.
“We will pray that our corrupted and corrupting leaders admit their betrayal of our trust and be held accountable for that betrayal,” he said, adding “we pray that their cohorts pay for their complicity in corruption.”
The prelate also offered prayers for honest officials. “We pray for those officials who are not involved to remain steadfast in their principles to render selfless and honest service to the people,” Santos said.
The bishop said the prayers will also ask God to knock on the hearts of everyone to work together to eradicate the scourge of corruption that inflicts so much suffering to the people, especially the poor.
In his homily, Santos reminded government leaders of the need to be fearful of God, loyalty to one’s good name and be truthful to what has been promised. “Hindi magnanakaw kapag may takot sa Diyos, kapag tapat sa pangalan at totoo sa sinumpaan,” he said.
On President Aquino’s “Kung walang korap, walang mahirap”, the bishop offered the following lines that he considered more truthful to what is happening in the country.
“Kung walang corrupt, walang hindi tapos na kalsada o kung walang corrupt, hindi na masisira o walang mabubutas na kalsada”; “Kung walang corrupt, wala nang mag-aaral sa ilalim ng santol.”
