Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum

27/02/2026

CHINESE NATIONAL, 8 OTHERS NABBED WITH P17.5M MINING EQUIPMENT, MACHINES IN HINOBA-AN

A Chinese national and eight others were arrested with mining equipment and machinery, among others, all worth P17.5 million, in a CIDG operation in Brgy. Bacuyangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental Feb. 26.

The CIDG Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit, with the DENR–Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Negros Island Region and territorial police units, seized mining equipment, two backhoes, three 10-wheeler dump trucks, vibrating screen machine, two boxes containing bottles of “mercury”, and an automatic generator set control panel during the operation.

The operation stemmed from a report of the MGB-NIR on alleged illegal mining activities in the area.

During the crackdown, the joint team caught the nine male suspects, including “Xiong”, a Chinese national, “Bert, Joey, Chris, Rey, Leo, Randy, Dante, and Egay”, while allegedly extracting and exploiting mineral resources, without the necessary mining rights, permits, or agreements from the MGB and other proper authorities, rendering the operation illegal, the CIDG said Feb. 27.

"All mineral resources in public and private lands within the territory and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the State," CIDG director, P/MGen. Robert Morico II, stressed in a statement.

"The illegal extraction of mineral resources and illegal quarrying is a serious crime that depletes and endangers our environment and natural resources," he added.

The suspects will be charged before the National Prosecution Service for violations of Section 102 (illegal exploration) and Section 103 (theft of minerals) of Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, in relation to Section 3 of RA 7076 (People's Small-scale Mining Act of 1991).

The CIDG leadership also commended P/Lt. Col. Edilmar Alviar, the regional chief of the CIDG Regional Field Unit, Negros Island Region; the CIDG Negros Occidental Provincial Field, led by Lt. Col. Lawrence Gerald Bathan, and the DENR–MGB-NIR for the accomplishment.

The CIDG urged the public to report illegal activities that affect the environment and natural resources in their localities, such as mining, quarrying, logging, and other related violations.*
📸 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group

26/02/2026

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21/02/2026

See you at
EDSA@40
February 25, 2026

Main Program
1-5pm
EDSA near Ortigas flyover

March begins at 12 noon:
Infront of JB Music Flagship Store
205 EDSA corner Rochester St., Mandaluyong City

Attire: Wear black with tubaw.
Clergy/Consecrated Life, wear religious garb and tubaw.

15/02/2026

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07/02/2026

29/01/2026

Biag, daga, kinabaknang! Salakniban!

28/01/2026

You are invited!

Please register in the link below.

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02/10/2025

: Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez: Peace is not an absence of conflict, but a presence of justice, dignity, and compassion in all lives.

01/10/2025

Dr. Muriel “Mu” Orevillo-Montenegro was an educator at heart, who championed women’s rights, peace, and justice.

Muriel co-founded the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) in July 2007. The PEPP has been accompanying Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical churches in pushing for the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Before this, she had worked with a non-government organization that focused on women and children. She received her doctorate in Systematic Theology from Union Seminary in New York City, then returned to Silliman University in Dumaguete City to serve as the coordinator of the Justice and Peace Center and where she also taught religion, philosophy, and theology. Later on, she would be elected as the first female dean of Silliman University’s Divinity School.

She also worked as the coordinator of the Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF) of the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, which focused on cross-cultural peace education. She was a firm believer in the capacity of the young people to envision peaceful futures for their community and country.

A compassionate, wise, and dedicated servant of Christ, she advocated for just and enduring peace. For this year’s that was observed last month, Muriel emboldened us again to embody a spirituality of justpeace, as there is no peace without justice.

“A spirituality of justpeace works for gender justice and challenges racism, ethnocentrism, ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, misogynism, militarism, and religious bigotry,” Muriel wrote in her biblico-theological reflection. “It is a lifestyle where prayer is both a contemplative meditation and action.“

Muriel joined the Creator this morning, October 1, 2025. Her friends and family will miss her greatly, but the enduring memory of her spirit of peacemaking will remain with us always. 🕊

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

10/09/2025

: Ecumenical bishops have denounced the massive corruption scandal involving government flood-control projects, calling it a betrayal of public trust and a “moral disgrace and anathema” to the Filipino people.

Read the full statement here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Zb3s8fB8/

Ecumenical bishops denounce flood-control corruption as betrayal of trust, urging accountability, transparency, and justice

10/09/2025

: The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) condemned the construction of “ghost projects” and called for accountability amid discussions on the anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

Read the full statement here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Zb3s8fB8/

The Ecumenical Bishops Forum condemned the construction of “ghost projects” and called for accountability amid discussions on the anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

10/09/2025

A NATION FLOODED WITH CORRUPTION

In recent weeks, a huge corruption scandal of unimaginable proportion involving flood control projects has been exposed. People from all walks of life, including the religious community and the public, have spoken out against it, criticized it, and called for accountability.

A number of organizations, civic and private, have issued strong statements condemning the scandal. Such a large-scale corruption is no less a "moral disgrace and anathema" that impair the dignity of the entire Filipino people. The misuse of public funds is obviously a result of an unholy collusion of amoral interest among shameful public officials, and some unscrupulous bloodsuckers. The words of the Prophet in Isaiah 1: 23 resoundingly reverberate: "Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them."

We strongly condemn this inhumane crime and demand justice and accountability. Flood-control infrastructure is useless and ineffectual because of "ghost projects," costly contracts, and the use of substandard materials.

This scam is a clear betrayal of the public trust because it keeps billions of pesos from going to the most vulnerable populations, such as farmers and the urban poor. The fund that was supposed to go to important infrastructure has been stolen, putting people in danger.

This critical issue merely reflects a more profound, systemic challenge within governance. Religious groups and concerned organizations view this scandal as a stark revelation of a culture of impunity, where greed undermines public trust and obstructs national progress.

As ecumenical bishops representing diverse churches, we firmly call for complete transparency, open bidding processes, independent audits, and the prosecution of all individuals involved, irrespective of their status. We call on every Filipino to advocate for reforms and safeguard public funds.

Separate inquiries and investigations into the suspected corruption have been started by the government. There is now a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that is centered on particular officials and contractors. Some officials have reportedly been dismissed of their duties, and a new Public Works and Highways Secretary has promised to "purge" the agency of "bad eggs." In sworn testimony, contractors have implicated prominent individuals, including prominent politicians.

We pray with all our hearts as we also ask our government authorities to make sure that all of these efforts lead to the prosecution of everyone responsible without any cover-ups or whitewashing. Let these words be our guide:

“Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.” - Deuteronomy 16:19


Issued and signed on this day 10th of September 2025.

(Sgd.) The Most Revd. Nestor D. Poltic, Sr.
Prime Bishop, Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Co-chairperson, Ecumenical Bishops Forum

(Sgd.) Bishop Joseph D. Agpaoa
General Secretary, United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Co-chairperson, Ecumenical Bishops Forum

(Sgd.) Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco, (Ret.)
United Methodist Church
General Secretary, Ecumenical Bishops Forum

(Sgd.) Bishop RubyNell M. Estrella
United Methodist Church
Treasurer, Ecumenical Bishops Forum

(Sgd.) The Rt. Rev. Emelyn Gasco-Dacuycuy
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Auditor, Ecumenical Bishops Forum

(Sgd.) The Rt. Rev. Rowel Arevalo
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Member-at-Large, EBF

(Sgd.) Most Rev. Bishop Emeritus Deogracias S. Iniguez, Jr., DD
Roman Catholic Church
Member-at-Large, EBF