ROXAS: GMA USED P1-B ANTI-CORRUPTION FUND FOR PROPAGANDA
RESIGN, SENATOR CHALLENGES OMBUDSMAN

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Arroyo must take full blame for the misspending of the P1-billion grant from the US government for anti-corruption programs that US officials say was wasted as corruption got worse instead of abating, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said today.

"Ginamit lang ni Gloria itong P1 bilyon na para sa pampapogi ng administrasyon niya, pero wala namang nangyari sa anti-corruption drive natin (Gloria just used this P1 billion to make her administration look good, but nothing really happened in the anti-corruption drive)," Roxas said.

The US government's Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) said the P1-billion ($21 million) grant it gave to the Philippines in 2006 was wasted because "corruption got worse" instead of abating in the country.

The MCC had earlier given the Philippines a failing mark in the area of "control of corruption", thus declaring us ineligible for soft loans and other development aids under its global foreign assistance program.

The Philippines received the $21 million grant from the MCC in 2006 because of its high percentile ranking in its control of corruption indicator. The percentile ranking, however, dropped to 57th percentile in 2007 and 47th percentile in 2008.

"Nagpabango lang si Gloria gamit ang P1 bilyon at ang pangalan ng MCC, pero lumabas pa rin ang mga baho at nabuking si Gloria. (Gloria used the money and name of the MCC to deodorize her administration but the stench stil came out and the truth is out)," Roxas said.

"Kahiya-hiya, ano ba ito? 'Yung korapsyon, 'yung pagtatakip sa katiwalian, yung pakikipag-kuntsaba ng mga nakaupo sa mga kriminal ay talagang talamak at kitang-kita. Hindi ba sila nahihiya? (What is this? This is shameful. Corruption, coverup, and connivance with criminals are widespread in this government. Aren't they embarrassed?)" he also said.

The Ilonggo senator said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez' inaction on high-profile corruption cases, like those involving former DA Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante and ex-PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, among others, only proved how the government squandered the MCC funds.

"Bagsak na nga tayo sa rating ng MCC at mga ibang internasyonal na ahensya. Hindi surpresa na bagsak rin ang ekonomiya natin, habang malaya ang mga kagaya ni Joc-Joc at mga euro general (We have failed corruption ratings of the MCC and other international agencies. It is not surprising that while our economy is failing as well, corrupt people like Joc-joc and the Euro generals remain scot-free)," Roxas said.

He said Ombudsman Gutierrez should also be ashamed and do the right thing.

"Mahiya ka naman, Ombudsman Gutierrez. Magbitiw ka na sa pwesto, at walang mangyayari sa sitwasyon ng Pilipinas habang Ombudsman ka (You should feel ashamed, Ombudsman Gutierrez. Resign now because nothing will happen to the government's anti-corruption drive while you are the Ombudsman)," Roxas added.