Statement of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines to End Corruption

RISE ABOVE THE FLOODS: STUDENTS FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE, 

INTEGRITY, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND HOPE

SEE

Students in the Philippines are facing a troubling reality as communities are overwhelmed not only by floods but also by corruption that makes disasters worse. Flood-control projects, intended to protect lives, are marred by corruption, with investigations showing up to 60% of project funds are misappropriated, resulting in inadequate infrastructure. This leads to disrupted education, increased stress for families, eroded trust in government, and severe consequences for the poorest individuals. The situation reflects a broader acceptance of corruption as part of survival politics, where temporary relief is prioritized over long-term safety. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has highlighted that this corruption involves a network of officials who prioritize profit over people. The human impact is significant, with real stories of loss and struggle behind failed projects. The bishops urge young Catholics to be proactive in combating this corruption by being vigilant and vocal online—exposing injustices, sharing information, and calling for reforms, thus embodying the courage of young saints who stood against mediocrity in service to others.

JUDGE

Integrity Amid Suffering

The story of Job teaches us that innocent people suffer even when they have done nothing wrong. Job loses family, wealth, and health, but he refuses to curse God or surrender his integrity. Instead, he cries out honestly and insists: “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban” (Job 29:14).

Job also testifies: “I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper” (Job 29:12). His example is a mirror for public servants—and a challenge for us students. Like Job, we must reject false comfort and dishonest gain. Job’s refusal to “make gold his trust” (Job 31:24) condemns the greed behind flood-control corruption. And when he warns that the land itself “cries out” when exploited (Job 31:38–40), we see our rivers, esteros, and mountains echo the same lament.

Job reminds us: hold fast to integrity, serve the poor, and trust in God’s justice even when corruption seems overwhelming.

The Common Good and Human Dignity

Catholic Social Teaching reminds us of our accountability in public service.  Public funds belong to the common good—these represent our shared responsibility to protect every person's dignity.⁴ The Church's principle of the "preferential option for the poor" allows us to reflect: Who suffers most when flood-control projects fail? The answer is always the same: those with the least and no resources to protect themselves.⁵

Stewardship of Creation

We are entrusted to responsible stewardship. When projects are sabotaged by greed, both people and our common home suffer. This is not just about engineering—it's about caring for God's creation and protecting human life.⁶

Truth and Participation in Democracy

Democracy requires truthful information and genuine citizen participation. As Catholics, we must promote transparency and accountability in public decision-making.⁷

Witnesses of Truth and Justice

The Church canonized Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, presenting them as models for students and young people today. Carlo, a millennial who harnessed technology to share his love for the Eucharist, and Pier Giorgio, a Catholic Action leader whose deep faith moved him to serve the poor and stand for justice with humility and joy. These two remarkable young men, though separated by nearly a century, embody for us what it means to live the Gospel with joy, courage and conviction. Pope Leo XIV urged youth not to waste their lives but to make them masterpieces through love of Jesus and service to the poor.⁸ 

ACT

As Student Catholic Action members, we commit to immediate actions that condemn and expose corruption through campus forums, social media advocacy, and awareness campaigns, while demanding transparency by filing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, witnessing budget hearings, and supporting independent investigations. 

We call all units to initiate in forming Action-Service Meetings that would result in concrete actions responsive to corruption issues. We engage faith-based actions and support nonviolent rallies to call out corrupt leaders and end corruption. We commit to digital advocacy to fact-check information, create anti-corruption campaigns, to listen to the stories of the victims and journey with them, and document projects exposing the truth. Finally, we strive to be faithful to our mission in accompanying our young people to formation towards personal, sustained actions and social transformation and turning our outrage into sustained actions.

A PRAYER FOR INTEGRITY

Lord, through the intercession of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, make our hearts brave to stand for truth and justice and our work reflecting Your Word. Teach us to love truth, protect the poor, and care for our common home. Let justice roll like a river throughout the country. Help us to be instruments of Your peace in a world that seeks for integrity. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, lead us closer to Christ. Amen.

CITATIONS

1. Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), "Beyond Survival: Rising Above the Floods of Corruption," Pastoral Letter, September 6–8, 2025.

2. Ibid. The bishops identify the "multi-layer commission culture" and networks of responsibility spanning public and private sectors.

3. Ibid. CBCP call for youth to be "vigilant, vocal, and verifiable" in online advocacy.

4. Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Vatican City, 2004, nos. 164–184 (Common Good).

5. Ibid., nos. 182–184 (Preferential Option for the Poor).

6. Ibid., nos. 451–487 (Safeguarding the Environment).

7. Ibid., nos. 406–408 (Information and Democracy).

8. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, "New young saints encourage faithful to live life to the full," News Release, September 7, 2025.

9. Catholic News Agency, "Pope canonizes Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati," September 7, 2025.

10. America Magazine, "Vatican Dispatch: First Canonizations Under Pope Leo XIV Draw 80,000," September 7, 2025.

11. The Holy Bible: Catholic Edition, Book of Job, esp. Job 29:12–14; 31:24, 38–40.