A Catholic Church leader on Tuesday called on the government to bring out the truth and avoid a whitewash in their investigation, saying Filipinos also demand justice for the victims of the August 23 hostage-taking incident.

“Not only the Chinese are calling for a just and swift investigation of this case. We, Filipinos, demand the same from our officials,” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in his homily on Tuesday at the Quirino Grandstand where the Mass for the hostage victims was held.

“Bring out the truth; let those responsible, whoever they maybe, be held accountable. No whitewash! No scapegoats! Let there be new life now for our justice system,” he added.

Pabillo issued the call hoping that the Aquino government will prove itself different from the past administration whose investigations usually end up with nothing.

“We want an investigation with credibility and that is the kind of change in the system that we are asking,” he told reporters in an interview.

But last week’s incident, Pabillo said, is not only a call for a new life to the government but to everyone as well, including the police, armed forces, politicians, the media, the Church and the faithful.

“We are asking for new life, too, from our police and for our armed forces in general. Let them be true keepers of peace. They should respect life and human rights to the utmost,” he said.

“New life for our politicians. We are asking for a more deeper concern, for the people they are serving – let not this issue be politicized, that is, let it not be dealt with in a self-seeking or self-protecting way. Let real service and real concern be given,” added Pabillo.

He also urged the media to also consider respect for the authority, life, and protection of basic rights in their coverage and not merely getting an exclusive.

The Church and the faithful, on the other hand, were urged by the prelate to be more assiduous in working for peace, forgiveness, and justice.

“We cannot just do the usual practices while this culture of violence is inundating our culture. We need to be more creative and self-sacrificing in our evangelizing work,” Pabillo said.

“May those who have suffered and died not been so in vain. May their sacrifice, made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, bring healing and new life to us. So in this nightmare, we continue to dream,” he added.

Other prelates who concelebrated with Pabillo are Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, and Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco together with other priests in Manila.

Before the Mass which was delayed for a few minutes due to heavy rains, a group of Buddhist monks also offered prayers to the victims.

Among the government officials who attended the event are Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao.

Jianchao, in a separate interview, thanked the government and the Church for organizing the Mass for the victims.