• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Stressing that an ant-dynasty law is essential to ending corruption and achieving reform, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, head of the social arm of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), has called for its passage, without delay.
Alminaza, who is the bishop of Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Island, also urged the public “not to tolerate political dynasties,” adding that it is time for fresh qualified names and faces to run the government.
“An Anti-Dynasty Law should be passed without delay. Some clans have dominated politics for decades. Yet, even newer politicians in national leadership seem to quickly expand their reach through the election or appointment of their relatives,” Alminaza noted.
Speaker Faustino Bojie Dy III earlier expressed his support to the anti-dynasty bill, a measure mandated by the 1987 Constitution, but never enforced due to the lack of an enabling law.
Alminaza, who is also president of Caritas Philippines, warned that some people in the government will try to create an impression that they have thoroughly addressed the corruption issue.
He urged the public to “stand together and continue our advocacy until measures for non-repetition and accountability are fully achieved.”
“We are facing a moral reckoning, and our people are seeking the truth. Corruption must finally end; nothing less will do. This is also the moment for our nation to pass a genuine anti-dynasty law,” he said.
In his first week as president of Caritas Philippines, Alminaza also highlighted how the Church’s response to recent floods revealed deeper structural problems.
“The Church must stay on the side of the victims of recent floods that devastated many. We accompanied communities through rescue and relief. Now, we must address the underlying, root causes that have been uncovered: namely, ecological degradation and corruption in governance,” he said. “Anti-corruption, integral ecology advocacy, and social action must remain in focus.”
He said the public protests held recently demonstrated widespread recognition that corruption and ecological neglect continue to harm poor communities the most.
“Vibrant and varied actions around the country, where multi sectoral groups participated, should inspire us all to keep learning together. We need to keep exercising synodality and solidarity with the poor, with one another, and with other concerned groups,” the bishop added.*
