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  • Our people’s frustration against graft

    • 21 Mar 2009
    • 1 Response
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    • Graft and Corruption Ombudsman Gutierrez Salonga corruption gma graft impeachment
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    The impeachment complaint filed by former Liberal Party President Jovito Salonga against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez merely reflected the Filipino people’s frustration over the Arroyo administration’s dismal failure to equally apply the law on everyone.

    The ouster move initiated by Salonga and the Liberal Party also represented the people’s feelings against the unabated graft and corruption in government caused by the inaction and indifference shown by the Office of the Ombudsman under Merceditas Gutierrez.

    The move merely reflected the Filipino people’s frustration over the Arroyo administration’s dismal failure to equally apply the law on everyone. The failure of Ombudsman Gutierrez to implement the equal protection of anti-graft laws has become a public outrage. In most graft cases, the rich and the influential are not charged for their wrongdoings.

    We saw the LP admitting it was behind the moves to oust Gutierrez, but it also said that the impeachment complaint filed by several of its members was only part of the party’s “conspiracy" to rid the government of corrupt officials. The party said in a statement that it was calling the ouster move by its members as a “conspiracy for the welfare of the country, for clean governance, and against corruption in government."

    We also saw on March 2 that some 31 civil society leader led by Salonga lodge an impeachment complaint against Gutierrez before the House of Representatives for allegedly failing to resolve high-profile cases on her sala.

    The LP said it had long been “itching" to make Gutierrez and her supposed “political masters" answerable for the series of controversies that have been hounding the government for several years. The party also said that it was already fed up of the corruption in government, and was determined to kick out anyone who are instigating supposed irregularities in government projects and protecting erring public officials, the statement said. We lament how the Philippines seems to have been losing the respect of other nations due to the string of controversies, one of which was allegedly even discovered not by a local agency but by a foreign entity—the World Bank.

  • Why the “double speak?”

    • 24 Nov 2008
    • 11 Responses
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    • 2010 elections Charter Change Constitutional Change Politics arroyo cha-cha corruption drilon fg gloria gma malacanang philippines
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    The Arroyo administration is guilty of "double speak" on the issue of charter change. The deceitful moves of Malacañang and its allies only reinforce suspicions that the exercise is intended to extend the president's stay in power beyond 2010.

    While President Arroyo appears to be no longer be interested in pushing for Charter Change and extending her term, her eldest son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, was spearheading a signature campaign in the House of Representatives to amend the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly.

    The double speak of Malacañang on the issue to Charter Change is too obvious to ignore. It is now clear to most Filipinos that despite her patent unpopularity, President Arroyo has not given up on the prospects of extending her stay in power until after 2010.

    This relentless presidential desire to stay in power appears to be the principal motivation behind the deceitful moves to amend the Constitution even if it would mean sacrificing the tradition democratic institutions of our country.

    Let me reiterate that pushing for Charter Change at this time would have a devastating effect on the national economy that is already suffering from the effects on the ongoing global financial crisis.

    Makati business leaders have expressed fears over Malacañang's renewed efforts to amend the Constitution, which they said would not help any in alleviating the country's flagging economy.

    I had been a staunch critic of Charter Change when I was Senate President of the 13th Congress, and I had argued that amending the Constitution was not the appropriate solution to resolve the current political and financial turmoil in the country.

    The proposed charter change will not eradicate corruption in government which is the very root cause of the country's present problems. What we need is not a change in the system but a change in the character of the people in government.

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