Bishop backs creation of body to conduct lifestyle checks on gov't execs

MANILA, Philippines - A senior Catholic bishop on Friday expressed support to a proposal for the creation of an independent body that will perform lifestyle checks on government officials. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said such a body would ensure that “our leaders from top to bottom, must be worthy of the people’s trust." He noted that as leaders they should be model for the public and should always upheld transparency in government service “All of us leaders, whether in Church or government, we must encourage that there be lifestyle checks even among ourselves," said Lagdameo in an interview. Aside from having a lifestyle check, the prelate said there is also a need for one to examine their conscience. “There should also be an examination of conscience so that at the end of the day, we would know whether we did something good or bad, so we can change it the next day," Lagdameo said. Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., late this week has filed House Resolution No. 798 urging the three branches of government to create independent bodies that will conduct lifestyle checks on their officials following the controversies that hounded Congress and the Court of Appeals. Abante said the individual independent bodies should be composed of legal experts, the academe, religious leaders, civil society, and media practitioners who are known for their probity, honesty, and integrity. "There is an urgent need to launch a more effective, honest, impartial, and direct campaign to stamp out graft and corruption which continues to rob the government and the people of estimated billions of pesos annually," Abante, chair of the House panel on Public Information, said. - GMANews.TV