Palace mum on Church-led 'Occupy’ movement, for now

November 26, 2011 4:38pm

At least for now, a Malacañang spokesperson is not giving any comment on a Catholic Church-led equivalent of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement to bewail corporate greed and the dark side of capitalism.

But this early, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III is also working against greed by encouraging “corporate social responsibility.”

“I don’t want to comment on it for now. We have seen similar movements in other countries, I don’t know how they [members of the local 'Occupy movement] plan to execute that here,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.

However, she also noted it is the right of people to assemble peaceably and seek redress for their grievances.

Earlier, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said a Church-led equivalent of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement will launch its formal manifest this coming week.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo is the convenor of “Kilusang 99%,” a social reform movement making government accountable for the majority’s welfare.

The movement aims to make the poor “the center of development” and government “accountable for the welfare of the majority.”

Pabillo clarified the Philippine version of the “Occupy” movement is not directed at the Aquino administration or any particular leader.

Instead, he said it is mainly addressed at the well-entrenched financial system that has bred social injustice, economic imbalance, corporate greed and the darkest side of capitalism.

On the other hand, Valte said Aquino has been doing his part to address the issue of corporate greed.

“In one speech before the business community, Aquino encouraged businesses to strengthen corporate social responsibility to avoid something similar like Occupy Wall Street from happening in the Philippines,” she said. — LBG, GMA News

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