Former Manila mayor and leader of a Catholic pro-life movement Lito Atienza, together with Catholic lay groups, launched on Tuesday a signature drive and fund-raising campaign, on Tuesday, in support of the bishops who were accused of receiving financial donations from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Atienza said they are looking at seeking donations from Catholic parishioners to raise PHP8.258 million, the amount that the bishops received from the PCSO. He said the money may be either returned to the PCSO or given to the bishops to purchase new vehicles if the cars they bought with PCSO donations have been surrendered to the government.

“We will coordinate with all Catholic organizations—churches, parishes, schools—that want to help like when we gathered one million signatures to convince Cory Aquino to run in 1985. We were able to do that because we helped each other,” said Atienza, who is also joined by lawyer Romulo Macalintal at the launch of the campaign at the Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila.

Atienza gave his own donation of PHP1,000. The group was able to raise PHP116,250 in less than an hour. A businessman donated P100,000 on the spot.

The Coalition for Family and Life, which included Couples for Christ, pro-life groups, and parishes, will start the signature and fund drive.

Atienza expressed confidence that the group will be able to raise the required amount quickly “This is voluntary…It is a small act compared to the big problem—because it is a nationwide, even international scandal—which is now hitting our beloved Mother Church,” Atienza said. He added that the issue is about the money, “[S]o let’s give back the money to put an end to this,” he added.

Atienza’s group believed there was no “law or ethical standard” violated by the seven bishops who received money from the PCSO.