KIDAPAWAN Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo celebrated two decades since his ordination as a Catholic prelate on Feb. 2, 2006. After serving as auxiliary to then-Cotabato archbishop and later Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Bagaforo assumed his current position in eastern Cotabato province.
Bishop Bagaforo also heads the Mindanao Bishops Council and the Episcopal Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which held its 132nd plenary gathering in Ozamiz City from July 3 to 10.
Notably, too, the 72-year-old prelate is also co-president of Pax Christi International, founded after World War II in 1945 and recognized by Pope Pius XII in 1952 as the official international Catholic peace movement, which seeks “to transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity.”
But perhaps his most prominent post in our time of public outrage over public works sleaze is founding chairman of the Inter-Religious Leaders Council for National Transformation, a lead organizer of protests against unprecedented corruption, including The Trillion Peso March last year and the White Ribbon March on June 28.
Moral decay and mental health
This writer interviewed Bishop Bagaforo after the CBCP plenary for The Manila Times and Emmanuel TV Network (ETVN), the country’s online Catholic video broadcaster.
His Excellency made potent points on our nation’s “moral decay” and the imperative for national transformation under God. Add to that grave social issues, including rising cases of suicide, as well as the mental health of people in challenging situations, including children and some priests.
And of course, hot news of the moment includes the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and the multibillion-peso flood-control corruption scam — “maleta,” as Bagaforo remarked, noting alleged suitcased bribes. Plus, the first regular elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in September, contested by three armed factions.
The good bishop minced no words and played no favorites. On both the flood-control scam and Duterte’s impeachment, he and his transformation council want full and impartial investigation, prosecution and accountability for all officials concerned, all the way from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose Ilocos Norte home is one of the alleged maleta destinations.
Bagaforo said religious leaders wanted the impeachment process to be completed according to the rule of law and in pursuit of truth and accountability — with no prejudgment of Vice President Duterte. Both the flood scam investigations and prosecutions and the impeachment trial advance the godly goals of truth and justice.
Moral values, the prelate stressed, mean “no lying, no stealing,” and absolute respect for human life. Hence, he shares the lament and horror of many over the Tacloban school shooting. Plainly, the two teenage suspects did not learn the sacredness of life.
“There are many evil influences [on] social media,” Bagaforo acknowledged. “But if the young have strong values, they will not be swayed by destructive online messages.”
To strengthen and safeguard the young against evil influences, the bishop strongly advocates infusing spiritual and moral education in school curricula. “I urge the Department of Education to bring God into the classroom,” he said. And the Bible, too.
Strong spirituality would also address another growing concern among the youth: mental health. “If there is faith and trust in God, there would be less strain, anxiety, and distress,” Bagaforo said.
Problems in mental health are increasing, especially when parents live and work apart from children. He extols the immense and loving sacrifice of overseas Filipino workers for their families, but there are undeniable psychological strains from work abroad.
The Church is giving more attention and efforts for mental health, Bagaforo said, echoing the statement of CBCP President and Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera during the post-plenary press conference. Both prelates also noted that some priests had also needed counseling, especially in substance abuse.
Bagaforo emphasized the need to be forthright in facing mental health issues, rather than hiding them out of shame. Only by acknowledging the existence of problems can our people and our social institutions, including the government and the Church, begin to mitigate their ill effects and implement solutions.
Watch out in the south
Turning to Mindanao, Bagaforo highlighted two paramount concerns: the upcoming BARMM elections and escalating environmental degradation.
He listed three powerful factions contesting the region’s first regular elections after many years under an interim government. Heading the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of mostly leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is MILF chairman and former BARMM interim chief minister Murad Ibrahim. The UBJP is one of two dominant parties recognized by the Commission on Elections.
The second dominant party is the Bangsamoro Federalist Party of current Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, another MILF stalwart. Bagaforo also cited the BARMM Grand Coalition, made up of mainly traditional political families like the Mangudadatu clan of Maguindanao.
These and other parties are well-armed, and Bagaforo urges all to avoid clashes and work for peaceful, free and honest voting. No one wants the first regular BARMM elections disrupted by violence, including the voiding of individual contests due to conditions undermining free suffrage.
As for the environment, Bagaforo fears huge mining and timber projects that would harm the already degraded lands of the south, though Mindanao’s resources and forest areas are still relatively less despoiled than those in Luzon and the Visayas.
Recalling two decades of CBCP plenaries he has attended, Bagaforo said the hierarchy always sought to address both internal Church concerns and external social, political, economic and environmental issues that hamper spiritual growth.
But internal or external, there must be one constant in both Church and State: God.