Archdiocese of Manila Calls for Prayer and Peaceful Protest Against Corruption in Flood Control Projects

The Archdiocese of Manila has appealed to the public to participate in prayer, reflection, and peaceful protests targeting corruption linked to controversial flood control projects. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, in a pastoral letter, encouraged all parishes, chaplaincies, and religious groups to hold prayerful discernment and take concrete but non-violent actions to oppose corruption.

"Together with my brother bishops of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, I exhort all communities to engage in prayerful reflections and peaceful initiatives against corruption," the letter stated. "Let us prioritize the nation and the people's welfare, hoping that justice and peace will prevail, that God will forgive our sins, and heal our fractured land."

This call follows recent developments involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has filed graft charges with the Office of the Ombudsman against 20 agency officials and four contractors implicated in irregularities related to flood control contracts. Concurrently, the Anti-Money Laundering Council is probing the casino activities of certain DPWH officials tied to the scandal.

Archbishop Advincula characterized recent public demonstrations against corruption as manifestations of the people's "moral conviction" and their "rightful obligation."

"These gatherings express not only frustration and anger over one of our nation’s most egregious scams but also reflect a collective duty to counter the spread of evil," he emphasized.

More than 200 sectoral and church groups are planning simultaneous rallies in Metro Manila on September 21 to protest corruption and misuse of public funds, while recent marches from the EDSA Shrine to the People Power Monument have already voiced opposition to graft in government.

Echoing the late Pope Francis, Cardinal Advincula stressed that true Christian identity involves "social charity" or "political love," meaning a commitment to the common good and the transformation of society.

The pastoral letter concluded with a call to patriotism rooted in holiness: "A true God-fearing person is patriotic because holiness inspires heroism, and true holiness includes serving justice."

The statement coincided with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, honoring the Virgin Mary's profound sorrow as the mother of Jesus Christ.