BAGUIO CITY — Religious leaders and residents from Baguio City and Benguet issued a joint call for political accountability, economic relief, and environmental protection on Monday, hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SoNA).

Members of the Baguio City Ecumenical Council (BCEC) asserted that governance must reflect the daily struggles of ordinary citizens, drawing from biblical teachings on justice and righteousness to address systemic corruption.

The council cited the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte over allegations of misusing confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, grave threats and betrayal of public trust.

BCEC stated the proceedings underscore an urgent need for truth, emphasizing that no official is above the law.

It also pointed to a sharp contrast between high-level financial misconduct and the economic hardships of workers facing low wages, job insecurity, unemployment and rising living costs.

Public assistance programs, the council noted, frequently serve as tools for political patronage rather than addressing the root causes of poverty.

The statement also condemned widespread environmental destruction in the Cordillera region and Northern Luzon, pointing to destructive mining, unconsulted rock-netting projects, uncontrolled urban expansion, and corporate intrusion into ancestral domains.

According to the council, these profit-driven developments damage mountain ecosystems and bypass mandatory free, prior, and informed consent processes for Indigenous Peoples.

Reaffirming its commitment to ecological justice and human dignity, BCEC pledged solidarity with communities resisting harmful infrastructure and resource extraction projects, arguing that economic progress should not compromise vulnerable populations or future generations.

The council urged government officials to reject impunity, return stolen public resources, and refrain from using state assets for personal gain or political self-preservation.

It also called on citizens to safeguard democratic processes by actively opposing vote-buying, political dynasties, and disinformation.