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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Caritas PH on alleged bribery for Cha-cha campaign: 'Do not take advantage of people'

Caritas PH on alleged bribery for Cha-cha campaign: 'Do not take advantage of people'

Published Feb 15, 2024 09:15 am

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) advocacy group, Caritas Philippines, stood up against the alleged bribery among communities in support of the signatories' demand to be portrayed as "people's initiative" supporting changes to the Charter.

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Caritas Philippines

In a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview on Thursday, Feb. 15, Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao Jr. said they have received reports that there have been continuous activities requesting signatures from the public to support constitutional change. 

Labiao asked those behind the "bribery" to not take advantage of the people's need for money, as he also reminded the public to thoroughly assess the documents first before signing them.

"Wala tayong magagawa kung itutuloy nila, pero sinasabi din natin sa mga tao na dapat alamin nila kung ano iyong pinipirmahan, at huwag sila tumanggap ng bayad kapag may pinapapirmahan kung hindi malinaw (We cannot do something about it if they continue to do so, however, we also remind the people to know what are they going to sign on, and that they should not accept money if the reason why they have to sign is not clear)," he said.

"Sana iyong mga leaders natin, huwag nilang pagsamantalahan naman iyong kahirapan ng ating mga kababayan, ibig-sabihin noon ay hindi tayo seryoso sa ating layunin na people's initiative (I hope our leaders would not take advantage of the poverty of our fellowmen, that also means they are not taking the people's initiative seriously)," Labiao added.

He also said that on Jan. 29, the bishops had already released a "pastoral statement" among all Catholic churches in the country to instruct moral guidelines for the people to assess their decisions, as there were reports from the public that financial aid will be given if they choose to sign.

Meanwhile, Labiao pointed out their stance that the premises for changing the constitution shall be clear, as it will not also be the solution to reduce the poverty in the country.

"Iyong pagbabago ng konstitusyon ay hindi pa panahon at dapat maliwanag kung bakit babaguhin. Sinasabi ng iba na iyan ang dahilan ng kahirapan pero naniniwala kami na maayos ang konstitusyon natin at ang sanhi ng kahirapan ay korapsyon (Now is not the right time for a constitutional change, and the reason why it is pushed should be clear. They say the constitution is the reason of poverty,  but we believe that there is no problem with our constitution, as corruption is the reason of poverty)," he said.

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