Pope Francis slams Philippines corruption and 'scandalous social inequalities'-Reuters

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"Cases of high-level officials in central and local governments misappropriating public funds for personal gain still abound. At least 25 per cent of the country of about 100 million are poor."...
 
1/16/15, "Pope Francis slams Philippines corruption and 'scandalous social inequalities'," Reuters via Christian Today

"Pope Francis has called on the Philippines government to tackles corruption and hear the cries of the poor suffering from "scandalous social inequalities" in Asia's most Catholic country.

The Pope went to the Malacanang presidential palace for an official welcoming ceremony led by President Benigno Aquino as tens of thousands of ecstatic Filipinos lined the streets.

Francis, a champion of the poor, pulled no punches in calling for a more just and caring society in the Philippines, which is about 80 percent Catholic.

"It is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good," he said....

Aquino, the only son of democracy champion and former president Corazon Aquino, took office in 2010 on the promise of transparency, good governance and battling corruption to lift the Philippines from poverty.

But he has struggled to shed the country's image as one of the most corrupt in Asia as he continues to defend his allies, while at the same time chasing down politicians, bureaucrats and generals associated with the past administration....

"REJECT CORRUPTION"

The Pope urged government officials "to reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor, and to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and child".
 
Since taking office, Aquino has executed wide-ranging reforms in graft-laden agencies such as the customs and internal revenue bureaus, helping improve the Philippines' ranking in watchdog Transparency International's corruption perceptions index (CPI) to 85 last year from 94 in 2013 and 105 in 2012.

But cases of high-level officials in central and local governments misappropriating public funds for personal gain still abound. At least 25 per cent of the country of about 100 million are poor, according to the Philippine statistics agency.

"The great biblical tradition enjoins on all peoples the duty to hear the voice of the poor," he told Filipino leaders.

"It bids us break the bonds of injustice and oppression which give rise to glaring, and indeed scandalous, social inequalities. Reforming the social structures which perpetuate poverty and the exclusion of the poor first requires a conversion of mind and heart," he said.

Aquino said that, while the Church was instrumental in the ousting of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, it "suddenly became silent in the face of the previous administration's abuses". Aquino's father was assassinated in 1983 when he returned from exile to oppose Marcos.

The president was referring to the government of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has been detained on corruption charges since 2012....

In his homily, Francis said many were still "living in the midst of a society burdened by poverty and corruption".

Later on Friday he was due to hold a rally with Filipino families. 

As many as 12 million people have left to find work in other countries, making the Philippines the fourth-largest recipient of remittances worldwide.

About half of the population has been affected by decades of labour migration and the strain has come at a significant social cost.

Francis has made defence of vulnerable migrants and workers a central issue of his papacy."

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