“LET us not allow corruption to thrive.”
The Rev. Der John Paborada, Social Communications Director of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, issued this call while celebrating a Holy Eucharistic Mass Monday, Nov. 24, dedicated to the victims of the Ampatuan massacre.
In his homily, Paborada cited corruption as one of the pressing issues still confronting Filipinos today.
“Mag start gyud sya sa atong kaugalingon, change of heart, dili unta nato i-tolerate nga mo thrive kining korapsyon sa ginagmay hantod sa dinagko,” Paborada said.
He noted that even dealing with “fixers” is already a form of corruption because the public allows it to happen.
Meanwhile, Menzie Montes, broadcast journalist and news director of iFM-RMN-dxCC, spoke to youth participants during the 16th commemoration of the Ampatuan massacre.
Known for her work on corruption-related stories, Montes asserted her commitment to truth-telling.
“Bahalag mamatay ko diri sa kalibutan basta nag storya kog tinood, mag unsa manang daghan kog money tapos ang equivalent ana nagbakak ko,” she told aspiring young journalists.
Montes appealed to the youth to uphold honesty and integrity in the stories they pursue, stressing that journalism remains a vital force in defending truth and accountability.
