BY GERARD NAVAL

SIXTEEN Catholic bishops yesterday reminded the administration of President Arroyo of the Seventh Commandment of God: "Thou shalt not steal."

"Whenever government money is stolen or whenever suppliers or contractors' money is offered as bribe to secure projects. graft or corruption is committed. As an injustice to the government and people, graft and corruption are against the Seventh Commandment and have the added element of betraying one's country," said a four-page pastoral statement, "Towards a morally rebuilt nation," signed by members of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Manila led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila.

Malacañang welcomed the statement, with Palace officials saying the Arroyo government is leading the campaign against graft and corruption. But in an apparent dig at critics, it pointed to another commandment.

"We remind the critics of the President of the ninth commandment 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor,'" said Lorelei Fajardo, deputy presidential spokeswoman.

Fajardo, a member of the Victory Christian Fellowship, a non-Catholic sect, was referring to the eighth of the 10 Commandments in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran teachings.

Under the teachings of the Jewish, Anglican, Reformed, Orthodox and Christian sects, the eighth commandment is "Thou shall not steal," and the seventh, "Thou shall not commit adultery."

The bishops, in the pastoral statement, echoed the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines which labeled corruption as the greatest shame of the nation.

The statement came a day after some 80 former senior government officials said Arroyo is the center of corruption and cover-ups in the scandal-ridden national broadband network project.

The bishops described graft as the "acquisition of gain by dishonest, unfair and sordid means through the abuse of one's position in politics, business, etc.," and corruption as the "improper enrichment of politicians or civil servants or those close to them by misuse of public power entrusted to them."

They said corruption leads to more sins such as lying, which are "employed to cover it."

They said those liable should make up for their misdeeds by returning what is not theirs.

"Thus, if one holds on to money or its equivalent that is not theirs, justice demands restitution of the stolen or bribe money to the owner. If the owner can no longer be located, then the money should be given to the poor or to a credible institution that will give money to the poor or give true services for the poor," it said.

But the bishops told the public it is not only government which is liable for corruption but also each and every Filipino.

Noting corruption is prevalent in every city, town and, village and among ordinary citizens, they called on government to lead efforts for communal renewal to rebuild a ravaged nation.

"We need the leaders from the highest to the lowest and their families not only to lead us but also to give examples of repentance and true humble conversion," they said.

The bishops also said communal renewal can still be achieved without having to go through another Edsa "people power" revolt.

Arroyo is subject of renewed calls for ouster or resignation because of allegations of corruption, particularly payoffs, surrounding the now-cancelled broadband project.

The other signatories to the statement are Bishops Honesto Ongtioco (Cubao), Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. (Caloocan), Gabriel Reyes (Antipolo), Jose Oliveros (Malolos), Luis Antonio Tagle (Imus), Jesse Mercado (Parañaque), Francisco San Diego (Pasig), Antonio Tobias (Novaliches) and Leo Drona (San Pablo).

Auxiliary Bishops Francisco de Leon (Antipolo), Bernardino Cortez (Manila) and Broderick Pabillo (Manila); Vicar Apostolic Bishops Edgardo Juanich (Taytay) and Pedro Arigo (Puerto Princesa); and Military Ordinariate Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak.

The statement is set to be read in all the parishes covered by the ecclesiastical province tomorrow, Palm Sunday, which kicks off the Catholics' observance of the Holy Week. - With Jocelyn Montemayor