February 19 2008

PGMA cites importance of fight vs corruption in quest for peace and progress

Amid unfounded allegations of corruption hurled against certain officials of the Arroyo administration linked with the long-cancelled National Broadband Network (NBN) project, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored today the need to rid the bureaucracy of corruption to attain peace and economic prosperity.

In her opening statement at the Procurement Transparency Group-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cabinet Group meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang this morning, the President stressed that the government has put anti-corruption campaign at the fore of its agenda.

''It is empirical that we fight corruption so we can attain further economic growth, increase investments that would create more new jobs for the people,'' the President said in Filipino.

Thus, she added, the government allotted last year some P3 billion in its war against corruption, ''the largest amount spent for an anti-corruption campaign.''

The President said among the measures taken by the government to stamp out corruption included lifestyle check on people in government.

''Dozens of officials have either been discharged from service or are facing corruption charges in courts as a result of the lifestyle check waged by the present administration,'' she stressed.

The President also said she has created the Procurement Transparency Group (PTG) chaired by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. to ''monitor and evaluate contracting of government projects.''

''The PTG, which we are meeting now, has been tasked to partner with business, academe, religious and civil society groups to be government's watchdogs,'' she said.

''To rid the system of corruption, the participation of the civil society through the PTG is important,'' the President stressed.

She likewise cited the important roles the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman play in the government's quest to rid the system of corruption and let truth and justice prevail.

Thus, the President said, the budget of the Office of the Ombudsman was doubled to allow it to hire more investigators and prosecutors.

''The number of cases won by the Sandiganbayan increased by 5 percent due to more prosecutors and investigators who are focused on graft and corruption cases,'' she said.

The President expressed hope that the Ombudsman would be fair in its investigation, “no leanings, no politics and no drama involved but fair and just decision...just the truth in accordance with due process, based on solid evidence, and respects the rights of the accused and the accuser.''

''This is the democratic process in resolving peacefully and truthfully issues and accusations,'' the President said.

“If we could resolve corruption charges in the democratic process, then our country would be respected as a democracy. Let us respect the rule of law, the key to peace and prosperity,'' the President said.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Statement: At the Procurement Transparency Group-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cabinet Group Meeting
Aguinaldo State Dining Room, Malacañang, February 19, 2008

Mga kababayan, kailangan sa pagsulong ng ekonomiya, paglaki ng investment at pagdami ng trabaho ay labanan ang katiwalian. Ito ang dahilan kaya naglaan tayo ng mga P3 billion laban sa katiwalian sa nagdaang mga taon, pinakamalaking halaga na ginugol kontra sa korupsiyon.

Bahagi rin ng ating laban sa katiwalian ang mga lifestyle check o pagkilatis ng maluhong pamumuhay at ari-arian, upang makita kung sino ang nagpapayaman. Dose-dosenang opisyal ang natatanggal o kinakasuhan taun-taon dahil sa lifestyle check, na ang kasalukuyang administrasyon ang tanging nagpatupad.

Bukod sa pagtugis sa mga tiwali, may pagkilos din tayo upang maiwasan ang katiwalian. Magpupulong ngayon ang isa sa mga pangkat na ating nilikha upang bantayan ang pagkontrata ng mga proyekto ng gobyerno. Ito ang Procurement Transparency Group na naatasang magpuwesto ng mga tanod sa mga tanggapan ng gobyerno.

Kabilang sa grupo hindi lamang ang mga departamento ng pamahalaan, gaya ng Kagawaran ng Budget, Katarungan at National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), kundi ang mga samahan ng lipunang sibil na siyang magtuturo at magpupuwesto ng mga tagapagmanman sa mga kontrata. Upang labanan ang katiwalian, nagbabantay ang bayan sa pamamagitan ng Procurement Transparency Group.

Sa pagtugis natin ng korupsiyon at paghahangad ng katotohanan at katarungan, mahalaga rin ang mga institusyon ng hustisya, gaya ng hukuman at Ombudsman. Dinoble natin ang budget ng Ombudsman upang makapagdagdag ito ng imbestigador at tagapagsakdal, at dahil dito, umakyat ng limang beses ang porsiyento ng mga kaso na naipapanalo sa Sandiganbayan.

Umaasa tayo na magiging masigasig at patas ang pagsisiyasat ng Ombudsman, walang pagkiling, walang politika, walang pagda-drama. Katotohanan lamang, alinsunod sa patakaran ng batas, base sa matibay na ebidensiya, at may paggalang sa karapatan kapwa ng akusado at nag-aakusa. Ito ang sistema ng demokrasya upang maresolba ang mga usapin at paratang nang mapayapa, makatotoo, at walang padalus-dalos.

Sa ganitong mga pagkilos upang labanan ang katiwalian at ipatupad ang batas, igagalang ang ating bansa bilang demokrasya at ekonomiyang nasa gulang — gumagalang sa karapatan, sumusunod sa proseso ng katarungan, at masusing sinusuri at hinuhusgahan ang mga usaping bayan.

Pagyamanin natin ang ating sistema ng batas at hustisya, ang susi sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Maraming salamat!

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PGMA, Cabinet members take “solidarity walk”

In a move to show their solidarity and unwavering support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the members of the Cabinet took a so-called “solidarity walk” with her before the scheduled Procurement Transparency Group- National Economic and Development Authority-Cabinet Group meeting in Malacañang this morning.

Dressed in a fire red dress suit, the President, flanked or followed by her Cabinet men, walked through the Palace courtyard from the Executive Guest House to the Aguinaldo State Dining Room where they met for more than two hours to discuss the government’s continuing campaign to rid the bureaucracy of corruption as part of the quest for peace and economic prosperity.

On Monday, the Cabinet members issued a joint statement declaring their solid support for the President whom they said “deserves to finish her mandated term until 2010.”

Today, they “walk(ed) the talk” to show to those calling for the resignation of the President and her Cabinet that they would stick it out with her.

In their joint statement, they stated that they believe the President is doing much for the country, especially the economy which posted the fastest growth in three decades at 7.3 percent in 2007, and reduced the budget deficit to P9.4 billion, the lowest in more than 10 years.

All the Cabinet members were present during the “solidarity walk” except those who are out of the country.

Vice President Noli de Castro, Commission on Higher Education Chair Romulo Neri, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye, Presidential Management Staff Director-General Cerge Remonde, Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Bayani Fernando were among those who took the “solidarity walk.”

Also present were Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino Razon.

The Cabinet men stressed that they would not be swayed by political noise and that they are proud to be working with the President in improving the lives of the people.

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Gaite denies P.5M used to prevent Lozada from appearing in Senate inquiry

Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite denied today earlier reports that said the P500,000 he had given to the brother of Senate star witness Rodolfo Lozada was meant to keep him from attending the Senate investigation into the long-cancelled National Broadband Network-ZTE (NBN-ZTE) project.

Gaite said it was “unfortunate” that all his efforts to help Lozada had been “twisted by him (Lozada) or made to appear as part of a scheme to prevent him from testifying in the Senate hearing on the NBN/ZTE project.”

In a statement released this morning, Gaite clarified that the money he had given to Lozada’s younger brother Owe last Feb. 4, 2008 was for the elder Lozada’s use during his attendance to an alleged conference in London.

“With regard to the P500,000 that I extended to him (Jun) through his brother Owe Lozada on Feb 4, the same was made upon Jun’s instance, after he had texted me that it was so cold where he was (which I assumed was in London), with not even a proper winter clothing and running out of funds,” Gaite’s statement read.

“It is not true, as claimed by Lozada, that the money I gave him through his brother was meant to prevent him from appearing in the Senate hearing nor make him tell a lie if he appears in the hearing,” it added.

Furthermore, Gaite stressed that “no government fund was used in the money that I gave to Mr. Lozada.”

In ending, Gaite expressed regret at the way Lozada had “taken advantage” of his compassion and “was used to suit his story.”

“With the way Jun Lozada has twisted my response to his personal appeal, deceived me about his dire circumstances, publicly and repeatedly dragged my name into a controversy I have no personal knowledge about, I regret that my act of compassion for him was taken advantage of, and was used to suit his story,” Gaite said.

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PGMA issues Proclamation No. 1463 setting the dates of 2008 regular and special holidays

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued Proclamation No. 1463 setting the specific dates of movable holidays as mandated by Republic Act No. 9492 which rationalized the celebration of the country’s holidays.

President Arroyo signed the proclamation on Feb. 18, the day she declared Feb. 25, 2008 (Monday) as a Special (Non-Working) Day nationwide to mark the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

R.A. 9492 provides that holidays, except those which are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation.

This year, the following regular holidays shall fall on the following dates:

• Maundy Thursday (March 20, Thursday);
• Good Friday (March 21, Friday);
• Araw ng Kagitingan (April 7, Monday nearest April 9);
• Labor Day (May 1, Thursday);
• Independence Day (June 9, Monday nearest June 12);
• National Heroes’ Day (Aug. 25, last Monday of August);
• Bonifacio Day (Dec. 1, Monday nearest Nov. 30);
• Christmas Day (Dec. 25, Thursday); and
• Rizal Day (Dec. 30, Tuesday).

Meanwhile, the Special (Non-Working) Holidays for 2008 shall fall on the following dates:

• Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug.18, Monday nearest Aug. 21);
• All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1, Saturday);
• Additional Special (Non-Working) Day (Dec. 26, Friday);
• Additional Special (Non-Working) Day (Dec. 29, Monday); and the
• Last day of the year (Dec. 31, Wednesday).

As for the Muslims’ observance of Eidul Fitr, President Arroyo ordered the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) to inform the Office of the President (OP) “on which day the said holiday shall fall.”

The President said another proclamation shall be issued declaring the Eidul Fitr date as a national holiday for Muslims “after the appropriate date of the Islamic holiday has been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.”

The President tasked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to promulgate the implementing guidelines for Proclamation 1463.

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19 FEBRUARY 2008		.