Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo issued a sharp reminder to government institutions on Thursday, asserting that rampant corruption continuously erodes public trust, damages democratic frameworks, and denies citizens the quality of governance they deserve.
Bagaforo, the chairperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Inter-Religious Dialogue, stressed that justice and accountability must be absolute, cutting across political ties, social standing, and official ranks.
“Public office is a public trust. Those entrusted with greater power, authority, and influence carry an even higher moral and legal responsibility before the people,” the bishop said.
The prelate specifically urged anti-graft bodies, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, to aggressively prosecute cases backed by strong legal foundations and probable cause.
According to Bagaforo, “there should be no excuses in the exercise of the law,” stressing that justice should never be selective or influenced by politics.
Beyond legal battles, Bagaforo pressed embattled officials to honor the principle of delicadeza and step up to take responsibility whenever their actions or involvement in scandals compromise the dignity of their positions.
“Leadership is not merely about legal survival; it is also about moral credibility and the preservation of public trust,” he said.
In contrast to self-serving politicians, the bishop lauded honest civil servants who remain dedicated to ethical governance despite immense political pushback.
“They represent the kind of leadership the Filipino truly deserve—one rooted not in self-interest, but in integrity, accountability, and love of country,” he added.
Bagaforo closed with a call to action for ordinary citizens, rallying them to stay vigilant and utilize democratic channels to fight institutional corruption.
The bishop’s strong pronouncements follow the Office of the Ombudsman’s recent filing of plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, stemming from his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.