Hypocrisy in Church, Journalism,

Politicians, All
 6/04/2016  Philippines , Rodrigo Duterte  271 Comments
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Let’s not beat about the bush. Let’s call a spade a spade.

This man is saying there is a problem of corruption on all levels and sectors. What to do? “Admit
the problem, call out the elephant.” And what’s blocking it? Hypocrisy! Now, here’s the man
calling a spade a spade.

"Mag prangkahan na tayo. It's better to tell the truth and agree on the truth. Rather than play
bullshit with journalism. Church, politicians, police, all. There's a veil of hypocrisy. Let us unveil
it so we can understand each other and live in a democracy that is run by truth, and not by vested
interest of people who pretend. I will not stop. I can spend the whole six years of my presidency
exposing you and attacking you... Boycott? Good if you disappear... I don't care if no one covers
me... Make this trip your last in Davao." - Rodrigo Duterte, 6/2/2016 at start of a press
conference, Malacanan of the South, Panacan, Davao City
(http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/opinion/2016/06/03/editorial-elephant-room-477511)

Forthright honest people use straightforward words. And it better be.

I have come to appreciate from deep within a value, which I believe is with President- elect
Rodrigo Duterte - by this declaration. This value is, however, devalued as the President said, by
all institutions of men, whether it be religious, politics, media, and government. His observation
that everywhere there is a veil of hypocrisy is biblically true!

TITUS 1:16 
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Hypocrisy, as defined in the dictionary, is the practice of claiming to have moral standards or
beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; it is pretense.

Hypocrisy is overwhelmingly practiced in religions established by men. While they profess that
they know God, they do monkey business, taking advantage of every opportunity for self-
interests.

MICAH 3:11 
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets
thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among
us? none evil can come upon us.

Lately, the President-elect took to task the Catholic Church for being the “most corrupt
institution.” Next, he targeted media as some of them being corrupt. How about the justice
system?

There is always a "season" or "time" for everything under the sun. And I believe the time has
come for us to see real change.

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 
1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is
planted; 
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time
to refrain from embracing; 
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

I, myself, thirst and hunger for justice because of the hypocrisy of people in religion and in
government! I'm thankful that someone has thought of writing about the very doubts haunting
my mind. Our unfortunate experience with the justice system in my beloved country is at most
adverse! I was consoled when I read a book of a fearless journalist that exposed something I'm
hesitant to lay open for fear of harassment!
This book, “Shadow of Doubt: Probing the Supreme Court” by Marites Danguilan Vitug
(Philippine Trust Media Group, Inc. 2010, 268 pp) wrote on Pages 93-94 -

It did help immensely that Velasco was endorsed by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, a
relative of his wife, and the Iglesia ni Cristo. Velasco listed Cardinal Vidal as one of his
references when he applied for the Supreme Court. Asked about the INC nomination, Velasco
said, “Some of my friends and classmates may have approached the Iglesia ni Cristo.”

Years later, Velasco wrote a decision in favor of the INC when he upheld the three month
suspension of the TV program, Ang Dating Daan, whose host used offensive language against a
minister of the INC who also anchors a TV program, Ang Tamang Daan. These religious rivals
had been at each other’s throats for years.

The majority sided with Velasco. Four justices dissented, calling the decision a “prior restraint”
and therefore, a blow to freedom of speech.

The perception was that Velasco was paying his dues to INC. “It was an en banc decision,” he
said, dismissing the perceived bias.

The Velasco being mentioned in the book is Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., an incumbent Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. In fact, Velasco sued the author for libel and
sought P1-M in damages - the first sitting SC justice to ever file a libel case against a journalist.
He filed another case when the article appeared in Vitug's book "Shadow of Doubt: Probing the
Supreme Court." He later withdrew one of the libel cases. (Purple Romero, “Justice Presbitero
Velasco: Faced with 'ethical' issues,” RapplerDotCom, July 27, 2012,)

What about the links of “church and court?” If a group forcefully lobbies, as is the habit of the
Iglesia ni Cristo, for the endorsement of a justice, one can be sure there’s a desiderata to be
reckoned with. Where then is justice to be found in their ponente? In “INC lobbies for key gov’t
positions,” Aries Rufo (RapplerDotCom, July 23, 2015) wrote -

Among the justices who were beneficiaries of INC endorsements are incumbent SC Associate
Justice Presbitero Velasco and retired SC justice Ruben T. Reyes. The INC also backed them
when they were appointed to the Court of Appeals initially. Arroyo also appointed Reynaldo
Wycoco, a retired general and INC member, as NBI chief. Wycoco died in 2005.
(http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/64529-inc-lobbies-key-government-positions).

I see light in these transformational change initiatives that the President-elect is launching where
discipline is to be built.

Go, President Duterte! We are praying for you. And if the giant media entities will leave you, so
be it. We are here to help you. You can use the facilities of UNTV for free to better serve the
Filipino people! May God bless you!

Sincerely yours,

Brother Eli