The humanitarian, development and advocacy arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is calling President Rodrigo Duterte to own up to the failures of his administration and rectify whatever he can as his term approaches its end.
In a statement, the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice, and Peace/Caritas Philippines, expressed dismay over President Duterte’s policies on poverty and hunger, law enforcement, environment, and the enforcement of the country’s arbitral ruling in the West Philippine Sea.
As the president prepares to leave office, Fr. Antonio Labiao, Caritas Philippines’ executive secretary urged the chief executive to take time off from bravado and profanities and instead “focus his energy in uniting the country as we still grapple from the devastating effects of the pandemic.”
“It won’t make any difference now to the lives of the Filipino people even if he gives marching orders to pass his priority legislations, or even to retract his socio-economic policies. It will matter however if, at least for what remains of his term, he will show decency and integrity”, said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines.
President Duterte is set to end his term at noon of June 30, 2022. Zeus Legaspi