Rowegie Abanto

Members of the clergy, friends, and relatives gather for the solemn Thanksgiving Mass of Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City on December 14, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Members of the clergy, friends, and relatives gather for the solemn Thanksgiving Mass of Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City on December 14, 2024. Pope Francis formally elevated Pablo Virgilio David to the rank of cardinal in the Catholic Church during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of New Cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican last December 7, 2024.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN news=--==

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Thank giving mass- cardinal david

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175972456780820211214-cardinal-pablo-david-thanksgiving-MT23.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Members of the clergy, friends, and relatives gather for the solemn Thanksgiving Mass of Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City on December 14, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines warned Monday that attempts to change again the leadership of the Senate would raise &quot;public suspicion of a cover-up&quot; amid the ongoing investigations into flood control corruption.</p><p>Rumors swirled for the past few days of a leadership shakeup in the Senate following alleged dissatisfaction among some senators with how the inquiry had been conducted.</p><p>Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop, reminded lawmakers that Filipinos &quot;are watching closely&quot; the developments of the government probes, cautioning that &quot;any move to change Senate leadership or redirect investigations now would only heighten public suspicion of a cover-up.&quot;</p><p>He called on all public officials to uphold the integrity of investigations into the flood control corruption in which many politicians were allegedly involved, including some House members and senators, who had denied accusations of wrongdoing.</p><p>&quot;We strongly oppose any attempt to pre-empt or derail the investigation through backroom deals, leadership takeovers, or selective justice,&quot; David said.</p><p>&quot;A nation cannot heal when its moral arteries are clogged by corruption and self-interest,&quot; he said. &quot;No to a whitewash. Yes to full accountability.&quot;</p><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacson said Sunday that he was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/5/lacson-stepping-aside-as-blue-ribbon-committee-chair-1524">stepping aside from his position</a> as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee &quot;in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/6/lacson-s-blue-ribbon-exit-a-sign-of-unstable-senate-says-drilon-1103">Lacson&#x27;s Blue Ribbon exit a sign of &#x27;unstable&#x27; Senate, says Drilon</a></div><p>Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III however said Monday that he was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/6/sotto-says-very-confident-of-majority-support-amid-fresh-coup-rumors-0905">confident</a> that he still retained the support of his colleagues amid rumors of another leadership change.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;DEFINING MOMENT FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>David also stressed that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) should be empowered to investigate &quot;fully and freely, without political interference from any branch of government.&quot;</p><p>The ICI was created to allow an independent inquiry into the corruption after concerns that congressional probes <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/house-mega-panel-halts-probe-on-flood-control-mess-co-chair-1510">might not be impartial</a>.</p><p>According to David, the ICI&#x27;s mandate should include the following:</p><p>• Transparency in proceedings, findings, and recommendations;</p><p>• Access to all necessary documents and witnesses, &quot;<strong></strong>including those protected by political privilege&quot;<strong></strong></p><p>• Public disclosure of budget insertions and project allocations, especially those tied to unprogrammed or duplicate public works projects</p><p>• Protection for whistleblowers and technical personnel who come forward in good faith</p><div><br/></div><p><strong></strong>&quot;This is a defining moment for public accountability. We urge both Congress and Malacañang to prove that they serve the common good, not partisan power. Let the truth flow freely. Let the ICI do its work — thoroughly, transparently, and without fear or favor,&quot; Cardinal David said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/cardinal-david-says-death-penalty-biased-against-the-poor-1155">Death penalty vs the corrupt? Cardinal says the wealthy can &#x27;manipulate system&#x27;</a></div><p>Last month, as the massive corruption in flood control projects was exposed, the CBCP demanded that &quot;stolen wealth&quot; should be returned to coffers and urged the public to &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/cbcp-chief-on-flood-control-projects-make-corruption-shameful-again-0005">make corruption shameful again</a>.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;CITIZENS PROBE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Fr. Wilmer Tria, national secretariat of the Trillion Peso March Movement, one of the organizers of the September 21 anti-corruption protests, said Monday that their group would launch a &quot;citizens&#x27; investigation&quot; if they find the government probes into the infrastructure scandal unsatisfactory and once there are indications of a cover-up.</p><p> &quot;It will happen soon, as soon as we are not satisfied with the results of the investigation, the system, the structure, will be ready to conduct its own investigation with the people, witnesses ready to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth,&quot; said Tria, who is also vice president of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.</p><p>He told ANC that the investigation of the ICI should be livestreamed because &quot;every Filipino is interested to know the truth.&quot; </p><p>Tria said the possible &quot;citizens&#x27; investigation&quot; would not be politicized &quot;as long as church leaders are there.&quot;</p><p>He added that Cardinal David opened the doors of the church for anyone who would cooperate to tell the truth.</p><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNU_kEmsepo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0gKw9NSZv4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines warned Monday that attempts to again change the leadership of the Senate would raise "public suspicion of a cover-up" amid the ongoing investigations into corruption of flood control funds.</p>

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines warned Monday that attempts to again change the leadership of the Senate would raise "public suspicion of a cover-up" amid the ongoing investigations into corruption of flood control funds.

CBCP warns Senate coup attempt raises 'suspicion of cover-up' amid corruption probes

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CBCP warns Senate coup attempt raises 'suspicion of cover-up' amid corruption probes

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 06, 2025 12:37 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 06, 2025 05:23 PM PHT

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