Br. Armin calls for a "morally upright government" during Inter-faith gathering

By Paul Darwynn Garilao, DLSP Media Bureau correspondent

As the nation commemorates EDSA II, members of various religious and civil society groups organized an inter-faith gathering to condemn the Arroyo Administration held at La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) last 18 January 2008.

In his keynote address, De La Salle Philippines President Br. Armin Luistro FSC called for a morally upright government. “Part of what we see now is a government that is morally bankrupt,” as it is involved in allegations of rampant corruption and other anomalous transactions.

Br. Armin also stressed that “economic gains cannot be used as a means of the government to continuously reign. It is easy to manipulate [economic] statistics for illegal means." Instead, a government must be moral, upright, and truthful.

Select representatives read the group's collective thoughts contained in a document dubbed as “7 Years is Enough". The group declared: “Corruption has become more blatant at the highest level...GMA may claim that there are many factors that contribute to these problems. That is also true. But she is still the single, biggest factor, especially as she has illegally expanded and, more so abused, the powers of the presidency.”

Prominent people such as Former Secretary Atty. Josefina Lichauco and Business Editor Vergel Santos also shared their sentiments.

From LSGH, some 800 protesters marched to EDSA Shrine, the site of two People Power revolutions. Since police officers barred them  from approaching the base of the Shrine, they just lit candles and sang nationalistic songs in front of the barricade and fire trucks. 

Among those who participated in the protest were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Representative Liza Maza, and former DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman. Members of the Black and White Movement, Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice, Bayan Muna, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan also took part in the assembly. The participants also gathered in an inter-faith rally at the Bay Walk in Malate, Manila last 14 December 2007.


(Photos were contributed by DLSU-Manila Student Council President Noey Arcinue)

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Cops bar anti-Arroyo protesters from EDSA shrine (Inquirer.net)