Pangilinan urges OFWs: Donate money for whistle blowers
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 21:55:00 02/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday urged overseas Filipino workers to donate money to the “sanctuary fund” set up by church people to finance the legal needs of whistle-blowers on government corruption activities.
Pangilinan said the appeal is especially “for those who believe in the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) call for communal action and so that we are not mere spectators but are active participants in the search for the truth.”
He said that only on its sixth day, the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines' Sanctuary Fund to support witnesses like Rodolfo Noel Lozada has now reached P693,372.50.
Quoting former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri, Lozada himself said labor migration has become the “escape valve” that has kept the Philippine society from imploding due to the numerous government anomalies.
The fund was set up at the senator's suggestion during a hearing on the cancelled $329-million contract wherein Lozada admitted to his own responsibility in possibly anomalous government deals.
He said the fund should help whistle-blowers defend themselves in case they are charged in court because of their exposes.
Pangilinan said check donations may be sent to AMRSP Special Funds at 28 Acacia Street, Quezon City, with telephone numbers 724-4434 or deposited directly to MBTC Account No. 3259-07445-3. He said the point person is Sister Estrella Castalone FMA.
“Make a stand for our nation's future,” he said.
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