PGMN Anchor Jourdan Sebastian raised questions about the role of religious institutions in what he described as the growing corruption problem in the Philippines. In his commentary, Sebastian argued that corruption is not limited to government offices, but reflects a wider societal issue. He pointed out that the country identifies as predominantly Christian, with a significant Muslim population, yet continues to struggle with financial corruption across sectors.
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Sebastian said institutions tasked with shaping moral conscience and safeguarding human dignity must also be examined. He questioned whether churches regularly disclose their finances to members and why many donors remain unaware of how contributions are allocated. “How can they extract transparency and accountability to government, businesses and other pillars of society if they themselves don’t have it?” Sebastian said.
He also cited reported investments linked to banking and mining, raising questions about consistency when church leaders publicly support initiatives such as a mining moratorium. Sebastian further questioned why separate donation drives are conducted during calamities if regular contributions are already being collected, asking where church funds are directed.
While he mentioned the Roman Catholic Church due to its size and influence, Sebastian clarified that his remarks apply across religious institutions, including Born Again groups and other denominations. He framed the issue as part of a broader discussion on accountability, saying corruption must be examined across all pillars of society, including those that claim moral authority.
