Representatives of the clergy, religious and laity forming a group called Circles of Discernments have called on the people to come together to discern plans for collective action in view of the upcoming May elections.
In an Easter Manifesto titled “A Passover for the Filipino People”, the group urged all Filipinos to look for worthy leaders and support them to replace those “unworthy” ones.
“Let us organize on the grassroots level and affirm the right to vote. Let us move to sustain the fervor of those who want their votes to count so the people’s sovereign will could prevail in this land of the morning sun,” the manifesto stated.
Accusing the present administration of corrupting the moral fiber of the people and of institutions, the group said it holds the Arroyo government responsible for the current state the country is in.
“We accuse her [Arroyo] and her cohorts of unprecedented corruption, enriching themselves by stealing from the poorest of the land—indigenous communities, farmers, peasants, among others. They lie and cheat with impunity. They perpetuate political dynasties that enable a few families to appropriate political and economic powers. They have prostituted our democratic and cultural values. They have betrayed our trust. They have stolen the future of the yet unborn Filipino by squandering at bargain prices our country’s natural resources,” the manifesto read.
The group also held Arroyo accountable for scores of human rights abuses that plagued her administration.
“We hold this regime responsible for the 1,118 extrajudicial killings and 204 enforced disappearances that have taken place from January 2001 to October 2009, symptomatic of the utter disregard this administration has for human rights,” they further said.
Saying that the upcoming May elections could signal a fresh start for the nation, the group called on the citizenry to keep their guard as foreboding signs of a no-election or failure of elections scenarios manifest themselves.
“There are indications that the election will be manipulated to advance the purposes of those in power. Worse, there is evidence pointing to a dastardly plot to bring about failure of election or, the non-proclamation of elected officials on the national level. It has become obvious that the many delays and glitches in the COMELEC’s preparation for the election are not so much a matter of inefficiency, but rather, as they are a part of a grand scheme to make the elections fail,” the group said.
The group also noted that a failed election scenario can be used as an excuse for the imposition of martial law and the continuation of the Arroyo government in a hold-over capacity.
Or, Arroyo, who is running for Congress could easily gain a majority that can pave the way for a parliamentary government and her being chosen as Prime Minister, they said.
Recalling the observance of the Holy Week, the group said Filipinos have in reality, shared the passion and death of Jesus.
“In real life, in this our beautiful and dangerous land, we have accompanied Him bearing our own pain and suffering in the hope of resurrection,” they said.
Just as Jesus in Gethsemane urged his apostles to watch, stay and pray, in the same manner, he is asking us to do the same today, the group said.
“The call of the hour is prophetic vigilance. In one prophetic voice we must denounce this orgy of betrayal, name the Judases of our times and unmask them. We have what it takes to thwart the diabolical wiles of the Arroyo administration in its attempt to degrade our standing as people within the international community of nations,” they added.
They said the Filipinos’ capacity to bear the cross of suffering will lead them to their own resurrection, with God leading the way.
The group forming the Circles of Discernment is composed of clergy, religious and lay people who took the initiative to get together to discern the current national situation in response to the call of the bishops to form “communities of faith-discernment and action.”
No comments:
Post a Comment