Miriam hits Aquino’s failure to curb corruption

Santiago reveals she PREVENTED supporters from revolting in '92 after she was cheated, now she cant promise d same. pic.twitter.com/4E7qB0toDZ

— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) April 29, 2016

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Friday hit the administration of President Benigno Aquino III over its supposed “lack of political will” to end corruption in government.

Speaking before an estimated 3,000 supporters at the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos in Bacolod City, Santiago said several anti-corruption bills remain pending in Congress due to lack of support from the Aquino administration for its passage.

“It does not take a genius to solve corruption. Laudable remedies have time and again been proposed. In fact, several measures aimed at curbing corruption are now pending in Congress,” Santiago said.

Santiago cited as example the bills that she had authored which remain pending in the Senate such as the Freedom of Information Bill which seeks to improve transparency in government transactions; Anti-Epal Bill which seeks to put an end to political patronage; and the Anti-Political Recommendations Bill which aims to restore meritocracy in government and abolish the “padrino system”.

Santiago also stressed the need for the passage of her proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill and the Anti-Premature Campaigning Bill, which seek to level the playing field during the elections.

“Other candidates spend billions in their campaigns. Where do they get the money? From businessmen, who want to control the politicians whose candidacies they bankrolled,” Santiago said.

Aquino upon assumption to office in 2010 said his administration’s platform of governance will center on the fight against corruption under its “Daang Matuwid” program.

Santiago, however, pointed out that based on the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International in January of this year, the Philippines slipped ten notches to 95th place out of the 168 countries included in the research.

On a score of 0 to 100, with 100 being "the cleanest", the Philippines was given a score of only 35, losing three points from the corruption index in 2014.

Santiago said the result of the global research only shows that the Philippines is still perceived as a corrupt nation.

“The agencies most perceived as corrupt are at the frontlines: the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Santiago said, still citing the results of the Transparency International study.

“You will notice that these agencies are the ones that are supposed to deal with the problems Filipinos complain about daily,” she added.

Santiago vowed that if she wins as president come the May 9 elections, her administration will focus on eradicating corruption in all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations.

“By the end of my term, the Philippines will be more prosperous, its people more united, and its political institutions more stable. The first item in my order of battle is to reform the culture of corruption,” Santiago said. — APG, GMA News