Press Release
December 16, 2008

ROXAS: CORRUPTION IS "SALT IN THE WOUND" OF POOR FILIPINOS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must take drastic measures in changing the administration's corrupt image if the Philippines is to receive much needed foreign aid during the present financial crisis.

He decried the country's ineligibility for aid from the United States' Millennium Challenge Corp. as a result of rampant corruption in the government, saying this "rubbed salt in the wound" of Filipinos trying to cope with the dire economic situation.

"Kahit na anong propaganda ng mga bata ni Pangulong Arroyo sa Malacañang tungkol sa ekonomiya natin ngayon, alam ng taumbayan kung ano ang tunay na sitwasyon, at lalong lumalala ang galit dahil sa mas lumalalang korapsyon sa pamahalaan (Despite the propaganda of President Arroyo's people about the economy, every Filipino knows the real situation, and their anger grows as corruption in government worsens)," Roxas said.

"Ang masama dito ay walang ginagawa ang Pangulo at ang mga alipores niya kundi mag-isip kung paano manatili sa poder at gumawa ng mga scam kagaya ng kay Joc-Joc Bolante. Mas lalo tayong nababaon sa kahirapan (What's worse is that even if our economy is in shambles, President Arroyo and her aides think of nothing but how to stay in power or come up with scams such as of Joc-Joc Bolante. We are sinking deeper into poverty)," he said.

The Philippines slipped in the MCC's "control of corruption" scorecard, from 76% in the fiscal year 2007 to 57% in FY2008 and now 47% in FY2009. In 2006, the US government corporation extended $21 million in assistance to the Philippines to help it combat corruption, but to no avail.

"Habang pababa ang tingin ng mga tao sa liderato ng bansa, ay bumababa rin tayo sa mga corruption ratings. Malinaw na malinaw na kasalanan ni Pangulong Arroyo ito matapos ang walong taon sa poder, itong masamang assessment ng Millennium Challenge Corporation sa atin (As the people's view of our leaders goes down, we are also dropping in corruption ratings. It's clear that it's the fault of President Arroyo, after eight years of power, for Millennium Challenge Corporation's assessment)," the Ilonggo senator said.

News Latest News Feed