Fund drive for bishops generates P2.5M

CEBU, Philippines - Two days after its nationwide launch last Sunday, the public sector fund drive for bishops called “Piso para sa Obispo” has already generated a running total of P2.5 million, with Cebu contributing at least P38,000 to that amount.

The fund drive was launched in response to the controversy arising from disclosures made by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the state-owned lottery agency, that several bishops received monetary donations used by the prelates to purchase mostly expensive vehicles.

The controversy prompted a Senate investigation that saw several of the bishops appearing before the hearing, in a spectacle never before seen in predominantly Catholic Philippines.

The embarrassment forced many Catholics to rally behind their bishops, hence the fund drive, supposedly to allow the bishops to purchase new vehicles after they were forced to return the previously donated vehicles back to the PCSO.

Fe Barino, chair of the Charismatic Community in Cebu (CCC), said they have already generated over P38,000 last Sunday alone, during the nationwide launching of the fund drive in Cebu.

She said they have until Sunday to collect all donations generated by 30 communities and will deposit the money on Monday to a bank account provided by the National Pro-life Coalition.

Barino emphasized that it’s not actually the amount they are after from the people.

“It’s their expression of support for the bishops that we really are after,” Barino told The FREEMAN.

They generated the amount by putting up boxes at the entrance of the Sto. Rosario Church and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Barino said the effort was done jointly with the Task Force for Family and Life in Cebu.

Barino said members of their organizations are the ones generating the donations from their respective communities during prayer meetings.

The donations were then turned over to the CCC office based at the Sto. Rosario Church.

Barino said they are targeting a donation of P8 million to purchase five more vehicles. Two vehicles were already donated by TV host Willie Revillame.

She said the program will be forwarded to Radio Veritas, the Catholic radio, for it to continue. The amount generated by the program will also support other projects of the bishops.

Barino said they may not be able to generate at least P1 million by Sunday, but at least that have helped in their own way to support the bishops. — /LPM (FREEMAN)