Bishop Toquero's Feb 25 Statement We Need Righteous Leaders When God called Isaiah to speak God's message to the nation of Judah (the Southern Kingdom of Israel) in a time of turmoil, God's words to the people are emphatic: "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isa 1:16-20) In the Northern Kingdom (Israel), the same message of God through the prophet Amos reverberated: "You who afflict the righteous, who take bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. … Seek good and not evil, that you may live; … Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gates; … let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:12b, 14, 15, 24) These prophetic messages are very relevant to our turbulent situation in the country today. The loss of respect for authority in almost all sectors of our society in politics, business or religion is very much prevalent these days not only in the Philippines but also in many other nations. Because of dishonesty, partiality or favoritism, lack of transparency, graft and corruption, our leaders are losing their credibility to govern. Consequently, their integrity and authority as leaders in the eyes of many of our citizens have eroded. The events that happened recently seemed to prove this observation: the conviction and immediate pardon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada of the crime of plunder; the forced resignation of former Commission on Elections Chair, Benjamin Abalos, because of the ZTE Broadband deal expose of Jose de Venecia III; the monetary "gifts" allegedly given by Malacañang to local government officials which the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has denounced as "bribery"; and, lately, the alleged "abduction" of Mr. Rodolfo Lozada, Jr. by government agents. Mr. Lozada's additional expose on the ZTE failed deal implicating some other persons close to the powers-that-be has again rocked the present regime. The Arroyo government is being criticized, left and right, because of these recent happenings not withstanding that it has not yet extricated itself completely from the 2004 "Hello Garci" tapes scandal. What has happened to our leaders? What has happened to the "only Christian country in Asia? Why can we not eliminate graft and corruption in government? Whatever regime that holds the reins of power, the octopus of graft and corruption, strangling and gripping tightly our people, agencies and institutions, continues to choke us; our leaders seem powerless to extricate us from this stranglehold. Are we not a Christian country? Is this not an oxymoron, a corrupt "Christian" country, allegedly the most corrupt in Asia? No wonder our young people have lost respect for our leaders because of corruption. It has inched its way into the socio-economic, political and religious fabric of our society; everyone is adversely affected. There is a need to "exorcise" this "evil spirit" that is killing us as a people; we have to be freed from this "octopus." We need to "die" and "bury" the old life; let it be "resurrected" into a new life free from the evils of corruption. Let this demonic power, which is leading us, little by little, to the abyss of perdition as a society and as a nation, finally, and forever, "be cast out"; let us be freed! There is a need for new leaders who will lead us in fighting against corruption in all sectors of our society, both in government and non-government agencies and institutions. There is a need for new leaders who will be transparent in all transactions both in public and private enterprise. There is a need for new leaders who will uphold the truth, righteousness and justice in all undertakings. There is a need for new leaders who will make it their priority to uplift the poor and needy by training them with needed skills and providing them with jobs and just compensation. There is a need for new leaders who will exemplify a righteous and honest life, privately and publicly. When our leaders speak the truth with integrity, walk the righteous path, live the righteous life and serve our people justly and righteously as Jesus Christ, our Savior did, then the people will follow and our nation will be transformed into a righteous Christian country in Asia which we can be proud of. Let us seek God for His guidance and humble ourselves before His Presence. As God said to King Solomon while he was praying in the temple: " If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land " (2 Chronicles 7:14). I believe this is what God wants us to do at these chaotic times. Bishop Solito K. Toquero The United Methodist Church Manila Episcopal Area EDSA I Anniversary, February 25, 2008