In a significant intervention, Archbishop Alberto "Abet" Uy has presented a detailed set of recommendations to the Cebu Anti-Corruption Coalition, framing it as a "humble proposal" for their ongoing probe into flood control and upland development projects following the devastation of Typhoon Tino.
A Seven-Point Moral Framework
In a Facebook post dated December 15, 2025, Archbishop Uy listed seven key action points under the title "My humble proposal to our Cebu Anti-Corruption Coalition members." He was careful to position his input not as a command or a claim of moral high ground, but as a contribution to the shared fight against graft in the Philippines.
The archbishop's proposal, however, has drawn attention for what it did not include. Notably absent were explicit calls for the filing of criminal charges against alleged culprits or the pursuit of financial restitution for the damage suffered by Cebu. These are steps many citizens and advocates consider essential for achieving true justice and accountability.
Timing Amid Pending Legal Cases
This spiritual guidance comes at a critical juncture. The proposal was made public just three days after a coalition leader announced that charges would be filed in early 2026 against individuals deemed responsible for the Typhoon Tino devastation on November 4, 2025.
Lawyer Jay Pujanes of the Cebu Anti-Corruption Coalition stated on a Radio Veritas program on December 12 that the legal process would begin "January next year." This timeline was supported by Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, who was also on the program, confirming that cases would start being filed "within the first few months of 2026."
Secretary Dizon emphasized the need for accountability, stating, "We have to hold people to account because these failures were caused by people. Officials in government, contractors, and others."
Core Themes of the Archbishop's Proposal
The archbishop's seven-point plan focuses on systemic and moral approaches rather than punitive measures alone. Key themes include:
1. Seeking Common Ground: Uy emphasized that the coalition's goal should be to assist and strengthen systems, not to shame or destabilize, framing all parties as potential partners in protecting public trust.
2. Citizen-Led Transparency: The proposal calls for enhanced citizen-based monitoring and transparency, particularly at the local level, for all public infrastructure projects.
3. Systemic Digital Reforms: It advocates for reducing opportunities for corruption through digitalization and other reforms that limit excessive human discretion in processes.
4. Protecting Truth-Tellers: A major point involves supporting whistleblowers both legally and morally, and partnering with responsible media and legal institutions to ensure the truth is told with accuracy and charity, not hatred.
Archbishop Uy concluded by framing the anti-corruption fight as ultimately a "moral and spiritual struggle" that concerns the nation's soul.
Observers note that the tone of this "humble proposal" appears more conciliatory compared to the archbishop's forceful remarks during an anti-corruption rally he led on November 30, where he spoke directly about accountability, transparency, and "thieves" who victimize the people.
As the coalition prepares to move forward with its legal actions in 2026, the hope among advocates is that the archbishop's moral framework will strengthen the pursuit of justice, providing a ethical compass without diluting the demand for concrete accountability for the failures that exacerbated Typhoon Tino's impact on Cebu.
