Press Release
March 19, 2009

Gordon slams 'crisis of trust' towards governance

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today said the country is faced with a "crisis of trust" which can be resolved by making the electoral process clean and credible and enforcing strictest ethical standards among government officials.

Gordon aired his concern as he stressed that the economic crisis the world is facing today is also a crisis of governance that is compounded by the public's apparent lack, if not at all together absence, of trust in the government.

"This period of challenge the world is facing now is a time of soul-searching for nations. The crisis gripping economies is a crisis of governance as well. And the one word that analysts say is missing is trust," he said.

"To govern and lead effectively, governments must have the people's trust. To have trust, the system as a whole needs to be imbued with shared values and shared goals," he added.

Amidst several crises, Gordon said the country has started to move forward to effect change through two major reforms -- the automation of election and the eternal efforts to raise the public's standard of integrity -- which will bear on the country's future.

Gordon, author of the amended Automated Election System Law, explained that the computerization of the elections is ushering in a paradigm shift in the country's election management system that would ensure free, speedy and credible elections.

"If the first step to reinventing government is to ensure the sanctity of the ballot, this system change makes that possible. With this change, public trust in our electoral processes can be nurtured again and our credibility as a democratic society will be enhanced," he said.

However, the senator explained that an automated election system does not guarantee credible candidates, which is why the public should pay attention to the performance, achievements and qualifications of those seeking to become the next leaders of the country.

Gordon, who is also chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, also stressed that government officials, both elected and appointed, have to believe that public office is really a public trust and it is vested with responsibility to the public good.

At the same time, he added, there should be sustained efforts in fighting corruption in the country.

"The battle against corruption has begun. But we should entertain no illusions that one season of jousting with corruption will suffice to break down the culture of corruption in our country. It has to be sustained. The cancer is deeply entrenched in our government bureaucracy and public life," Gordon said.

"In a word, we need to find the soul of our national community and seek it in the government we elect and the leaders we follow," he added.

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