Aquino says anti-corruption drive freed up

resources for Filipinos

By Kristine Angeli Sabillo
INQUIRER.net
4:46 pm | Thursday, May 22nd, 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III gestures during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Makati Shangri-la on Thursday. GRIG C.
MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER

MANILA, PhilippinesPresident Benigno Aquino III said on Thursday that anti-corruption efforts by his government
freed up resources that were now being used to invest in Filipinos.
These reforms, along with countless others, naturally expanded the resources available to government, Aquino told
more than 600 delegates of the World Economic Forum on East Asia held at Makati Shangri-La.
The question was: What do we do with these resources we have freed up? To everyone in our administration, the
answer was very obvious: We had to invest in our greatest assetsand that, once again, was the Filipino people, he
explained.
The President said this was done through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps), which provides sustainable livelihood assistance to its beneficiaries.
Now, we are assisting around 4.3 million families, or about 22 percent of the population and this constitutes the
poorest of the poor, he said.
Investments in health and education were also made.
Of course, the principle behind the CCT dovetails with the strategic investments we have made in education to
enhance the skillsets of the next generation, Aquino said.
He claimed that his government has been addressing the backlogs on classrooms, chairs and other equipment.
Worst efforts of our leaders
At the same time, Aquino said his administration dismantled corruption, a promise we made to the people.
We had to take on all those who had a misplaced sense of entitlementwho believed that they had more rights than
their fellow Filipinos, he said.
So, we went after every individual who committed wrongdoing, and look at the results: My predecessor is now
undergoing hospital arrest as she undergoes two serious charges, with another being evaluated by the Ombudsman.

The Congress and the Senate removed a Chief Justice from office for failing to declare over 98 percent of his assets
in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth contrary to our constitution and our laws, Aquino added.
Aquino said Philippine growth was made possible despite the worst efforts of our leaders.
Opportunities
In the end, the President said opportunities are crucial to further spur equitable growth.
We are aware, however, that inclusive growth cannot be achieved simply by delivering to our people the services
they rightfully deserve. Government must also actively find ways to create opportunities for the people, he said.
Aquino pointed out that the government has been working hard to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination.
The results are clear: From 2001 to 2009, the term of my predecessor, the average annual growth of international
tourists arrivals was at 5.1 percent; under our watch, from 2010 to 2013, this number grew to 11.6 percent, he said,
adding that international tourists spend an average of a thousand dollars each.
Aquino made no further mention of how many more opportunities may be offered but during the morning sessions of
the WEF, his Cabinet members tackled the countrys efforts in strengthening the agriculture and manufacturing
sectors.
Renewed perceptions
We have always said that good governance is good economics, and the results of our reforms on the economic end
are proving us right. In 2013, our economy grew by 7.2 percentmaking us one of the fastest growing countries in
Asia, the President said, pointing out that growth was achieved amid numerous disasters that struck the country last
year.
He said another proof of the Philippines progress was the renewed perceptions of the international community.
Recently, Standard & Poors upgraded its rating for the Philippines from BBB- to BBB. The WEF competitiveness
rankings also raised the country by 26 places from 85th to 59th.
Not to mention, from 2010 to 2014, we have made great strides in the World Bank and the International Finance
Corporations Ease of Doing Business Report and in the Heritage Foundations Index of Economic Freedom,
improving by 36 spots and 20 spots in each one, respectively, he said.
Aquino said the Philippine economy is building on its momentum with the revival of its manufacturing sector amid
greater infrastructure spending, from P200 billion in 2011 to P400 billion this year.
Our country is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround in every sector, and we are intent on continuing this trend and
making certain that each and every Filipino enjoys the full dividends of progress, he added.
A few minutes before Aquino took the stage, protesters and police scuffled outside the hotel.
The activists said the Philippine economy was no miracle, especially with the high unemployment rate.
What miracle is the regime talking about? We have the highest unemployment rate in the region, and the highest in
Philippine history, despite repeated claims of economic growth. The supposed growth is centered on a few sections
of the economy and account for a small percentage of jobs created, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said in a
statement.
The Philippines is hosting the WEF on East Asia for the first time. More than 600 delegates from 30 countries
participated in the three-day event.

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/104910/aquino-says-anti-corruption-drive-freed-up-resources-forfilipinos#ixzz333DEe7Ty

Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

Analyst: Corruption still haunts Aquino

administration
By Nestor Corrales
INQUIRER.net
7:57 pm | Thursday, January 16th, 2014

President Benigno Aquino III. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, PhilippinesCorruption still haunts the Aquino administration despite the tuwid na daan (straight path)
campaign of the government, a political analyst said Thursday.
Professor Ramon Casiple said the widespread corruption in the government as perceived by the business sector in
the recent Social Weather Station Survey (SWS) came as no surprise.
Corruption in the government is entrenched. There is a need for a dramatic action and a strong political will for the
president to actually confront this (corruption), Casiple said.
Casiple added that the current political system in the country is indicative of the corruption that has been haunting the
government despite efforts of the Aquino administration.
To be fair to the President and to his Cabinet members, they have done a lot of reforms, but the problem is on its
impact. We still need to find convictions. The problem is it is taking too long, he said.
The latest SWS survey revealed that 56 percent of the business people claimed seeing a lot of corruption in the
public sector, a 30-percent increase from 43 percent in 2012.
Malacaang earlier said the perception on seeing a lot of corruption in the government is balanced by the
perception that the government is taking steps to eradicate corruption.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/564943/analyst-corruption-still-haunts-aquino-administration#ixzz333EshOP6

Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

'Corruption pervasive under Aquino administration'

By Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 11, 2012 - 12:00am
0

1 googleplus0

MANILA, Philippines - Former national treasurer Leonor Briones claimed that corruption has worsened and is
pervasive as ever under the Aquino administration.
Briones said that the audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding losses in the national treasury of
P101 billion during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also showed that portion of the
unaccounted funds was spent during the term of President Aquino.
She told a forum in Manila last Tuesday that it is unfair to blame the Arroyo administration for losses incurred
based on the 2011 audit report because it is also clear that a significant portion could be attributed to the
present administration.
Briones said contrary to claims that corruption has been curbed, the report shows that it is still pervasive, if not
much worse than the previous administration since irregularities in the disbursements of funds increased during
the Aquino administration as could be seen in Tables II.4-A and II.4-B of the COA report.

She explained that in accounting parlance, an audit finding that is termed as unqualified means there is no
anomaly, while a qualified finding means there is an anomaly.
In Table II.4-A of the audit report pertaining to the national level, it found that the number of unqualified findings
had decreased from 52 and 54 unqualified findings in 2009 and 2010, respectively to just 44 in 2011. This
means that in 2011 there had been lesser agencies that have been found to be honest and regular in the
disbursements of their funds.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/10/11/858305/corruption-pervasive-underaquino-administration

Aquino: Trillion may already be missing due to

corruption
By Kim Arveen Patria | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom Wed, Oct 2, 2013

Email
Share 2
Tweet

Print

Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III delivers his speech before the signing of a
framework agreement between the Philippines government and Muslim separatist rebels inside more

(UPDATE) The Philippines missing funds amount not only to billions but to a trillion.

Under the Arroyo administration alone, as President Benigno Aquino III claims, funds lost to corrupt
practices totaled P836 billion so far and may even exceed P1 trillion.

Speaking before the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals Wednesday, Aquino
claimed the pork barrel scam is but a symptom of a bigger scheme to capture public funds.

We have not yet unearthed everything, but already, based on our initial findings, we know that the

amount may exceed one trillion pesos, the President said.

In the almost ten year-period of the past administration, the average annual budget was around P1
trillion pesos, Aquino said.

Is this not appallingthat funds equivalent to the national budget for just one year may have been
fallen into their hands, for use wherever they wanted? he added.
He identified four mechanisms to capture public funds including:
-the reenactment of the national budget
-the misuse of Malampaya funds
-the manipulation of automatic appropriations
-transactions for rice imports

Aquino said the national budget was only enacted on time once under former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyos watch, leading to the reenactment the previous years budget.

Due to the reenactment, there were projects that had already been finished the year prior that were
still allocated funds, Aquino said.

These funds were then considered savings, he said, which the Executive department can spend as it
pleases.

Aquino made the accusations as his own Cabinet is being questioned for releasing funds supposedly
as bribes for lawmakers who impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Militant groups on Wednesday filed plunder complaints against Aquino, members of his Cabinet and
businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Comparing his administration to Arroyos, Aquino said Congress under his watch has not failed to
pass the national budget on time. No reenactments were done, he added.

The President added the Arroyo administration also treated the Malampaya fundroyalties earned
from the Malampaya gas fieldas discretionary funds.

The fund, which is supposed to be used only for the energy sector, was appropriated to other entries
under other such purposes and was distributed to lawmakers.

In other words, the Malampaya fund became much like PDAF [Priority Development Assistance
Fund]used for politics, to pad the pockets of allied lawmakers, Aquino said.

The Arroyo government also manipulated automatic allocations for debt servicing, Aquino claimed,
by using foreign exchange assumptions which cannot be increased.

So the past Congresses doctored the assumptions to lower our payments for foreign debt. After
doing that, they would have funds to allocate to other things, he noted.

Another indirect means to capture funds, Aquino said, was the gross over importation of rice at
higher prices.

The National Food Administrations debt, Aquino said, ballooned to P177 billion in 2010 from
P23.33 billion in 2001. He added that P123 billion was incurred only during Arroyos last two years
in power.

Aquino said, We are not yet done searching for answers: who was behind this, what happened,
where did the money go, who benefited from this scheme, and who is truly guilty?

He meanwhile assured Filipinos that his administration is implementing reforms to stop such
mechanisms and the same type of mentality within the system.

Among the reforms he highlighted were the abolition of the PDAF, a hand-off policy on debt
servicing allocations and a revamp among Customs officials.

I have removed opportunities for corruption; I did this of my own volition, according to my
mandate, with no one pressuring me, the President said.

All the powers at my disposal to gain funds and dole them out where I wanted, I have consistently

reduced, he added.

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/aquino--billions--not-millions--are-missing-due-tocorruption-072405825.html

Palace acknowledges SWS survey on widespread

corruption
By Kristine Angeli Sabillo
INQUIRER.net
1:25 pm | Thursday, January 16th, 2014
9 270 109

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. PHOTO BY LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines Malacaang on Thursday said it acknowledges the results of a recent survey showing that
more business people are observing a lot of corruption but not without reforms from the government.
It is evident that the perception on seeing a lot of corruption is balanced by the perception that the government is
taking steps to eradicate corruption, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing.
He cited the Social Weather Stations (SWS) 2013 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption, which said 56 percent of the
countrys top executives claimed seeing a lot of corruption in the public sector, a substantial increase from 43
percent in 2012.
The survey was conducted from July to November 2013 among 951 companies.
He said the same survey revealed that 73 percent of respondents believed that the government efforts to eradicate
corruption have been effective.

However, it was pointed out during the briefing that the 73 percent was a drop from 78 percent in 2012.
Coloma, on the other hand, boasted of the results of the International Finance Corporations Doing Business 2014
and the Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index, both of which gave the Philippines a higher or
better ranking compared to previous years.
These favorable findings give due recognition to the governments determination to institutionalize reforms that will
promote good governance pursuant to its commitment to implement the United Nations Convention Against
Corruption (UNCAC), he said.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/564795/palace-accepts-sws-survey-on-widespreadcorruption#ixzz333FhlF5H

Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

Aquino: Anti-corruption program now bearing

fruits

By Doris C. Dumlao Philippine Daily Inquirer

DAVOS, SwitzerlandWhat started as a presidential campaign battlecry is now unlocking the
Philippines potential to fast-track economic growth, attract more investors and rekindle optimism
among its citizens. President Benigno Aquino spoke to the World Economic Forum about his
administrations anti-corruption efforts which he vowed to institutionalize into an enduring
mainstream of progress rather a mere blip in the radar and a case study for failed expectations.
And while the President acknowledged that the work to uplift the lives of his poor countrymen was
far from over, he said the fight against corruption has so far yielded positive results for the
economy, in turn benefiting not only the rich, but the majority of the people.
We want our people to come to expect more from their government; we want to prove that their
mandate, given freely during elections, counts for something, Aquino said.
The President spoke on Thursday night before a private session linked to WEFs anti-corruption
initiative through a multi-sectoral group called Partnering Against Corruption Initiative. It was a
closed-door session that also included the chief of state of Mongolia, the prime minister of Peru and
a member of the Indian Parliament.

In discussing recent initiatives, Mr. Aquino said there was rampant corruption in the government
when he first assumed office in 2010, alluding to the rice importation binge of the National Food
Authority and anomalous road projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He also cited the impeachment of former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona for the nondisclosure of the bulk of his wealth.
A copy of the Presidents speech was released after the private session, which was attended by a
select group of 50 people, mostly chief executive officers of corporations. Communications Secretary
Ramon Carandang also briefed visiting Philippine media about the anti-corruption session and
released a copy of the Presidents opening remarks.
What brought everybody together was that you had governments that were taking concrete steps
and they were willing to share what they learned, Carandang said.
I think this is good because when they hear straight from the leaders about what they are doing to
fight corruption, I think it helps instil confidence in them because every one of those people was a
potential investor in our country. So when you explain all these things to them, they sometimes act a
little surprised because some of the moves that weve taken are quite bold. So, I think, it creates a
good impression of not just the leadership but the country in general, he added.

http://www.gopacmanila2013.com/blog/2013/01/aquino-anti-corruption-programnow-bearing-fruits

U.S. Senator Lugar cites the Aquino

administrations anti-corruption drive
Published: October 29, 2012.

An October 29, 2012 press release from the Office of the Presidential
Spokesperson
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar congratulated President Benigno S. Aquino III for the latters
strong stance against corruption during a courtesy call at Malacaang.
Your administrations consistent anti-corruption efforts are dramatically changing the
perception of the Philippines in peoples minds, the most senior Republican in the U.S.
Senate said. I am here to personally hear more about the positive developments in your
country, he added.

President Aquino in turn said that his administrations good governance agenda has
translated into real gains for Filipinos. By next year we will be able to solve the problem of
classroom shortage in our public schools. We now have more people covered by our national
health insurance, and the increase in our rice production will hopefully enable us to be a rice
exporter soon, President Aquino said.
During the call, President Aquino thanked the visiting senator from Indiana for the latters
political analysis of the 1986 snap elections, which led President Ronald Reagan to
eventually withdraw U.S. support for the Marcos administration. On behalf of the Filipino
people, thank you for your crucial role in the restoration of democracy in our country, said
President Aquino.
Senator Lugar said that his visit to the Philippines in 1986 contributed immensely to his
continuing education in foreign relations. It made such an impression on me that I had
photographs of that time placed on a wall of my office at the Capitol, Senator Lugar said.
Citing the strong commitment of the U.S. in ensuring the safe passage of ships and
unimpeded trade through the seas of Asia-Pacific, Senator Lugar pledged to continue
working for a strong PH-U.S. alliance. I plan to speak with various audiences back home on
why the U.S. should continue to support steadfast allies like the Philippines, and how we
could be more helpful to you as a partner, Senator Lugar said.

This entry was posted in Briefing Room, Office of the Presidential Spokesperson. Bookmark
thepermalink.
http://www.gov.ph/2012/10/29/u-s-senator-lugar-cites-the-aquino-administrationsanti-corruption-drive/

PNoys greatest legacy

BREAKTHROUGH By Elfren S. Cruz (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 9, 2014 - 12:00am
7

540 googleplus1

Once considered the economic and political model of Asia, Thailand is now on the edge of becoming a failed
state. The Philippines, once the sick man of Asia is now considered the top investment destination and most
successful economic story in Asia by several major international think tanks and analysts.
Today, Thailands democratically elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been driven from Bangkok by
anti-government protesters. The elite want Shinawatra to resign and be replaced by a peoples council which
is actually a junta. She is insisting on a democratic election to choose the next government. Once Thailand
gives up on democracy, there will be political instability which will have negative effects on its economy.
A dozen years ago, the Thais were among the worlds biggest consumers of luxury goods. It was the third
largest car exporter in Asia. Its per capita income was double that of the Philippines. When Shinawatra was

elected in 2011, there was hope that she would be able to address the economic downturn. For a while it
appeared that democracy was finally working.
The Bangkok elite accuse Shinawatra of massive corruption and buying the support of the poor with programs
like the rice subsidy. While this may be true, the question is whether the oppositions alternative to appoint a
junta instead of electing leaders is the solution or the beginning of an era of political instability, economic
stagnation and military interventions.
The Philippine situation around a dozen years ago was similar. There were street demonstrations against a
corrupt government. The President was forced to flee Malacaang and resign from office. The military had
backed the position of the street demonstrators. There was talk of a junta taking over. But Corazon Aquino, who
was then the nations moral leader, did not support the proposal and the vice president took over.
For nine years, under Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, again there was political instability due to massive corruption in
government and alleged manipulation of electoral results. GMAs popularity ratings were the lowest since
Marcos and were, in fact, negative in the last few years. By different international ratings, from credit risk and
investment ratings to corruption indexes and business opinion surveys, the Philippines was a failing state.

Opinion ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Again, there were anti-government demonstrations in the streets. There were repeated attempts at military
interventions. But the majority of the elite and the masses continued to support democracy.
In the 2010 elections, President Noynoy Aquino was elected president. In less than four years, the once failing
state has been transformed into one of Asias brightest economic stars. This is the conclusion of several highly
prestigious and internationally recognized institutions and organizations.
Just this week, the Philippines was judged as having the best investment climate in Asia ahead of countries like
China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia , Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Australia. The study,
based on the results of a survey of 334 multinational corporations operating in Asia was made by Londonbased Economist Corporate Network, a unit of the Economist.
But this should not be a surprise. In 2013, all three major credit rating agencies Fitch, Standard and Poors,
Moodys assessed the Philippine sovereign credit rating as investment grade, the first time in our history.
Moodys cited solid growth, political stability, greater accountability and a low level of exposure to external
shocks. This agency said the countrys level of economic performance is among the fastest in the Asia-Pacific
region and across emerging markets globally.
Ruchir Sharma, the author of BREAKOUT NATIONS: In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracles, wrote that in
the 1960s the Philippines had the second highest per capita income in Asia next only to Japan. But by the
beginning of the 21st century, many of its neighbors had overtaken the country due primarily to corruption,
political instability and crony capitalism. But after the election in 2010, here is what he writes:
Now, at long last, the Philippines looks poised to resume a period of strong growth. The new president,
Benigno Noynoy Aquino, probably has just enough support and looks likely to generate just enough reform
momentum to get the job done...Filipinos saw him as an honest figure who could deliver on the Aquino
mandate for change and they were desperate after nine years of drift and decay under outgoing president

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo... Aquino is delegating power to competent technocrats and seems to understand
what needs to be done...
After three-and-a-half years of the P-Noy presidency, two articles in the January-February issue of
theFOREIGN AFFAIRS magazine , published by the New York based Council on Foreign Relations, gives an
extensive analysis of several emerging markets, especially Indonesia and the Philippines.
One article says: Two of its [ASEAN] members have stood out as particularly promising. Giant Indonesia
soared during the last half decade, boasting high growth, low inflation, an extremely low debt to GDP ratio. But
it is the Philippines, the regions other archipelago, that is now providing the biggest upside surprise.
The Philippines has momentum behind its reform efforts and a popular president with three years left in his
term. This provides a compelling platform for growth moving forward.
There is another article entitled Why Economic Forecasts Fail. It seeks to explain why countries like Brazil,
Turkey, Egypt, South Africa that were considered future tiger economies just five years ago--failed to meet
expectations. At the same time, it asked why countries like Mexico and the Philippines suddenly exceeded
expectations and are poised to be the next economic superstars.
It is a well thought out article with one paragraph standing out which says: Economists tend to ignore the story
of people and politics as too soft and incorporate into forecast models. Instead they study hard numbers such
as government spending or interest rates. But numbers cannot capture the energy that a vibrant leader such as
Mexicos new president, Enrique Pena Nieto or the Philippines Benigno Aquino III can unleash by cracking
down on monopolists, bribes and dysfunctional bureaucracies.
It is a strong and moral leadership combined with good governance and the rule of law that could lead to the
dawn of a new Filipino century. This is the greatest legacy that P-Noy could leave his country in 2016.
*

http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/03/09/1298754/pnoys-greatest-legacy

Calls for prosecution of corrupt govt officials

grow louder after PNoy's speech
By AMITA O. LEGASPI,GMA NewsNovember 1, 2013 12:53pm
515

70

779

Tags: Bantay Kaban

(Updated 3:48 p.m.) - Count former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III
among those who were disappointed with President Benigno Aquino III's televised message
Thursday night defending his administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
In a post on Facebook, Alunan, who was DILG chief during the Ramos administration, said what
Aquino said in his 10-minute speech was far from what the public should and wanted to hear.
I believe that this is what we all wanted to hear last night: My fellow-Filipinos, these are my orders:
1. Cabinet Secretaries will undertake a thorough clean-up of their departments and agencies of
corrupt elements; 2. Cases of erring officials and employees are to be immediately remanded to the
Ombudsman for appropriate action; 3. The Ombudsman is expected to release its findings within the
time limit prescribed by law, not one minute later. 4. I will cause the removal of ANY official caught in
a conflict of interest, he said.
In his televised speech hyped by Malacaang as the first time the President asked networks for
airtime to "directly address the Filipino people" Aquino attacked those trying to equate the pork
barrel scam with DAP. Without mentioning names, he said personalities involved in the alleged
misuse of pork barrel funds are using the DAP issue to divert the public's attention as well as to
smear his administration.
But Alunan said what Aquino should have said was that he as President would do his best to
minimize the leakage of the people's money to maximize government's investments in national,
human and ecological security."
The former government official said Aquino should have also announced that he "will enjoin the
Legislature to be a strategic partner in this endeavour, and that he will cause the Freedom of
Information bill to be passed into law as soon as possible so that the citizenry can be empowered to
help me, as another strategic partner, to govern well.
MBC: Put corrupt officials behind bars
Meanwhile, the Makati Business Club expressed indignation at how certain public officials and
private individuals have manipulated social support systems for their own gain.
We ask the government to continue the aggressive pursuit of its reform agenda and ensure that all
those found guilty of wrongdoing, whether inside or outside government, irrespective of political

allegiance, be cast behind bars, it said in a press statement.

MBC said it recognized the ongoing efforts of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches to
introduce reforms, investigate allegations, and uncover the truth.
Amidst the attempts to muddle the issue, we remain steadfast in our support of these processes
with fervent hope that justice will, indeed, prevail, it said.
The group also urged the business community and private citizens to be vigilant, to be actively
informed, and to take advantage of existing avenues of monitoring and reporting abuses.
Let us seize this opportunity to unite under a common ideal to transform our institutions and place
the Philippines on the upright path to progress, it said.
BPO employees blast PNoy
A group of business process outsourcing (BPO) employees, on the other hand, chided Aquino for his
alleged failure to prosecute corrupt officials.
You have not prosecuted a single corrupt official under the Arroyo administration. Some of those
officials are enjoying your protection after you appointed them as members of your cabinet, BPO
Industry Employees Network (BIEN) said in a separate statement.
You have removed (Chief Justice Renato) Corona and (Ombudsman) Merceditas Gutierrez from
their posts but no corrupt official has been prosecuted. You have appointed officials in the SSS,
Philhealth, GSIS and other GOCCs who continue to enjoy millions of bonuses that come from our
hard work, blood, and sweat, and you tell us you are all holy and innocent? it added.
The group said they found it necessary to speak up after the President went on national television to
defend the DAP.
As part of the second biggest tax contributor in the country, we call center workers say to the
President: We are not stupid! the group said, adding that they are "angry, disgusted, and we will not
allow it to pass.
The corruption that goes with the pork barrel system has hounded our country since the 80s. The

money that we pay as taxes is being compromised and the president has the balls to tell us that it is
not being pocketed, it said.
DAP is 'pork'
It added that they have yet to see the sincerity and seriousness of Aquinos daang matuwid slogan.
Mr. President, tell us that the DAP is not pork when you have the power to disburse it based on your
prerogative. Sec. Butch Abad of the Department of Budget and Management himself admitted that
the P50 million additional 'gifts' to senators who voted to oust Chief Justice Renato Corona came
from the DAP, it said.
The group hit the President for allegedly failing to provide the simplest forms of relief in times of
calamities and disasters.
The meager P21 million relief assistance to people affected by the earthquake in Bohol is
incomparable to the amount you spend in useless bonuses and incentives of high officials of
different government agencies, it said.
We want our taxes back! We will continue to fight for a tax holiday! We have lost confidence in your
government to manage our money after youve made us look stupid by trying to wash your hands
clean of corruption! it added.
The group called for more transparency in government and the re-channeling of all pork barrel funds
to social services, as well as prosecution of all those involved in the pork barrel scam, both from the
opposition and from administration allies.
Palace reacts
During a phone interview with reporters on Friday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said they respect the opinion of the BPO industry.

"We have always been forthright with the facts and explaining and have always been ready to
explain the ins and the outs of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which we tried to do in the
past months that this has been an issue in the public eye," she said.

On the other hand, she said MBC's call has always been in the anti-corruption campaign of the
President.

"At this point its important for us to make sure that systems are in place to avoid any fund misuse.
We still need to do more and transparency is very important to us," she said. with a report
fromKimberly Jane Tan/KBK/KG, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/333573/news/nation/calls-for-prosecutionof-corrupt-govt-officials-grow-louder-after-pnoy-s-speech

Less corruption in PH in
the last 2 years global
study
A Transparency International survey shows 10% to 14% of PH respondents paid bribes,
but 84% are willing to get involved in anti-corruption activities

Ayee Macaraig
Published 6:19 PM, Jul 09, 2013
Updated 2:53 PM, Jul 10, 2013

Infographic from transparency.org

MANILA, Philippines Is the fight against corruption gaining traction in the Philippines?
A report of Berlin-based Transparency International showed corruption in the Philippines
decreased over the last two years.
This is one of the findings listed in the groups Global Corruption Barometer 2013, which
Transparency International calls the biggest survey tracking worldwide public opinion on
corruption. The report was released on Tuesday, July 9.
In the Philippines, Transparency International surveyed 1,000 respondents nationwide
using face-to-face interviews.
Twelve percent of respondents reported paying bribes in the past year to any one of
these 8 services: police, judiciary, registry, land, medical, education, tax, and utilities.
The figure is down from the 16% who reported paying bribes in the Global Corruption
Barometer 2010/2011.

The 2013 report put the Philippines in the same cluster as Argentina, Chile, El Salvador,
Hungary, Israel, Jamaica, Palestine, Rwanda, and Vanuatu or countries where 10% to
14.9% of respondents reported paying bribes in the last year.
In the Philippines, 35% of respondents said corruption decreased a little, 31% said it
stayed the same, 19% said it increased a lot, 12% said it increased a little, and only
2% said it decreased a lot.
Since 2003, the Global Corruption Barometer has been surveying the experiences of
everyday people confronting corruption around the world.
It is different from Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception Index,
which ranked the Philippines 105th out of 176 countries in 2012.

Infographic from transparency.org

Police most corrupt institution

Respondents in the Philippines identified the police as the most corrupt among 12
institutions. This was the same finding in the 2010/2011 survey.
In a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely corrupt, the police got a score of 4.
Here is the list of institutions and their respective scores, listed from those perceived to
be most corrupt to those perceived to be least corrupt:
1. Police 4.0

2. Public officials / Civil Servants 3.8

3. Political parties 3.7
4. Parliament/Legislature 3.5
5. Judiciary 3.5
6. Military 3.2
7. Business/Private Sector 2.9
8. Education system 2.8
9. Medical and Health 2.8
10. NGOs 2.7
11. Religious bodies 2.3
12. Media 2.2

Despite their experience with corruption, 61% to 80% of respondents agreed or strongly
agreed with the statement that Ordinary people can make a difference in the fight
against corruption.
The survey said 84% of respondents expressed willingness to get involved in anticorruption activities.
Of 5 options, respondents in the Philippines chose signing a petition as the anticorruption activity they are most willing to engage in.
The other 4 choices were joining a peaceful protest, joining an anti-corruption
organization, paying more to buy from a corruption-free company, and spreading word
about corruption through social media.
The Office of the Ombudsman has said that corruption in government transactions is
losing ground.

In 2010, it commissioned a National Statistics Office survey that showed only 10% of
those who accessed government services paid bribes to facilitate transactions. The
Ombudsman said the number was lower than that in the Global Corruption Barometer.
READ: Corruption linked to 'culture of expectations'
Fighting corruption is a priority of the Aquino administration, with President Benigno
Aquino III winning the presidency on a promise to reduce graft.
Aquino lent his political capital to push for the removal of former Chief Justice Renato
Corona for failing to declare his bank deposits. Yet observers have said that corruption
remains pervasive in lower levels of government.
Global corruption worsening
Besides the Philippines, 106 other countries were surveyed in the Global Corruption
Barometer 2013. There were 114,000 respondents worldwide.
The survey found that global corruption worsened in the past two years, and a quarter
reported paying bribes in the last 12 months.
Transparency International pointed to a connection between poverty and graft.
In Zimbabwe, women giving birth in a local hospital have been charged US$5 every
time they scream as a penalty for raising false alarm. In Bangladesh, the recent collapse
of a multistory factory, which killed more than 1,100 people due to a breach of basic
safety standards, has been linked to allegations of corruption.
Transparency International is a global civil society organization fighting corruption. It has
90 chapters worldwide and works with partners in government, business and civil
society to develop and implement measures to tackle it. Rappler.com
http://www.rappler.com/nation/33299-philippines-global-corruption-barometer-2013

Malacaang on less
corruption: You will see
PNoy's legacy
Malacaang welcomes the findings of the Global Corruption Barometer 2013, but
defends the police, which is perceived to be the most corrupt institution

Natashya Gutierrez
Published 5:28 PM, Jul 10, 2013
Updated 5:27 PM, Jul 10, 2013

AQUINO'S LEGACY. With 3 years left, Malacaang Palace expresses confidence President Benigno Aquino III's
legacy on decreasing corruption will be felt by the Filipino people. File photo by Malacaang Photo Bureau

MANILA, Philippines Filipinos will see President Benigno Aquino III's legacy of less
corruption in the government when he leaves office in 2016.
Malacaang Palace expressed this belief a day after the release of a report by Berlinbased Transparency International, first reported by Rappler, that showed corruption in
the Philippines decreased over the last two years.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Tuesday, July 10, spoke with confidence,
citing the rise in Filipinos who believe corruption in the country has decreased. He said,
from only 6% of respondents believing corruption decreased in 2010, 35% of those
surveyed in 2013 now share that belief.
"The legacy will be shown to you. After 6 years, you will be the judge of the legacy. We
will show you," he said.
"I think one of the things that you could say is that the attitude of the people towards
government has changed dramatically. Thats one thing that you will see. And for other
legacies of this government, I think, rather than for us to crow about it, I think the people
will be in a better position to say it."

The decrease in corruption is one of the findings listed in the groups Global Corruption
Barometer 2013, which Transparency International calls the biggest survey tracking
worldwide public opinion on corruption.
While Lacierda said the government still recognized "there are still some levels of
corruption," he emphasized that the recognition of the administration's "consistent fight
against corruption" is there.
He gave assurances the government would not let down.
"Those who were surveyed, at the very least, recognized that there have been an
increase in the recognition that corruption has decreased under this administration and
we continue to fight against corruption. This is an ongoing process and it will continue to
the very last day in our administration," he said.
Defending the PNP
The report also showed that Filipinos perceive the police force as the most corrupt
among 12 institutions, which reflected the same findings in the 2010/2011 survey.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) received a score of 4, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5
being extremely corrupt.
The other institutions most seen to be corrupt were public officials/civil servants, political
parties, parliament/legislature, and the judiciary, in that order.
Lacierda acknowledged these institutions will have to "make some improvements," but
also argued that "sometimes, the frontliners are the most visible." He said the report
should be used as instructive by the government.
Lacierda also defended the PNP, despite it topping the list of perceived most corrupt.
The government has worked toward cleaning up the image and modernizing the police
force.
"I know for a fact that the PNP has done a lot of reforms, and they continue to do a lot of
reforms, and Im sure that General [Alan] Purisima has continued all these reforms and
will push for greater reforms in the police," he said. Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/nation/33397-less-corruption-pnoy-legacy