Bohol Convenors Group formed tom'row Amid recent events that rocked the capital sending the whole country agog over sordid details of alleged big-time corruption in high places, a multi-sectoral Convenors Group called Boholanos for Truth and Transparency will be formed tomorrow.
The group will hold its first meeting at Saya's Restaurant at 10 a.m. with a cross section of the religious, lawyers, academe, business, youth and civil society aptly represented. The group apparently self-evolved as conscience-stricken individuals representing various interest groups who decided to speak and act together for truth, transparency and good governance.
Technical Consultant and former government corporation top executive Jun Lozada (Philippine Forestry Corporation), has been the center of media focus after exposing that about US$130-million (P6.5-billion) in bribe money through overpricing was to change hands in the ZTE-NBN Broadband project costing US$320 million.
The First Gentleman Mike Arroyo has been implicated in the scam of which some advances in bribe had already been allegedly advanced according to the star witness.
This corroborated the earlier statement made by former NEDA chief Romulo Neri that former Comelec chairman Ben Abalos offered a bribe of P200 million at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club. Public pressure eventually led to Abalos' resignation.
Public indignation went fever pitch in the wake of attempts by different government agencies and personalities to prevent Lozada from testifying which tantamount to "kidnapping" according to Lozada's lawyers.
Thereafter Metro Manila and certain key cities in the country have become a site for various protest moves in various forms and intensity.
Among the early convenors are Atty. Isabelo Sales (President IBP-Bohol Chapter), Engr. Albert M. Uy (Regional Council Director BCBP-Bohol and Dumaguete), Engr. Vicente Loquillano (Executive Director, People's Fair Trade Assistance Center Inc.), Albert Sanvictores (Former President, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry); Atty. Doods Sabijon (Dean, College of Criminology, UB);
Dr. Godofreda Tirol (Dean, Graduate School, UB), Atty. Raul Barbarona (Executive Director, Environmental Legal Assistance Center), Engr. Nilo Sarigumba (President, BACOSH) and Rene L. Relampagos (former Governor, Province of Bohol).
Many members of the Bohol clergy had committed to say "Mass for Truth" offerings in their respective parishes and to attend wherever such kind of mass will be celebrated.
Among them are Msgr. Vicente Nunag III (Parish Priest, Baclayon), Msgr. Gabino Lerin (Parish Priest, Manga, Tagbilaran Parish), Rev. Fr. Faustino Bisol (Parish Priest, Ubujan, Tagbilaran Parish), Msgr. Junix Nalzaro (Parish Priest, Taloto, Tagbilaran Parish), Rev. Fr. Efren Dolauta (Parish Priest, Maribojoc) and Rev. Fr. Rey Evangelista (Parish Priest, Cogtong, Candijay Parish).
According to Msgr. Nunag, beginning March 2 and every Sunday thereafter at 5 p.m. the Mass for Truth will be held in historic Baclayon Church, considered to be the oldest church in the Philippines. All masses will be officiated in English except the fourth Sunday which will be in Latin.
Other concerned groups and associations are likewise invited to join. Many youth groups especially inside the school campuses have already shown interest to join. Other concerned associations and groups "interested in truth and transparency" are invited to join. The Convenors Group will soon have a secretariat or coordinating point for easy organization.
Relampagos, acting in his private capacity as concerned citizen said the movement is to "solidify our crusade for honesty especially for those who are accountable to the people whom they are supposed to serve.
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