ROXAS: RP WILL NOT PASS CORRUPTION TEST

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said development assistance for the Philippines from the United States and other foreign governments will continue to be imperiled under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's leadership.

"Hangga't hindi natin mapalitan ang ating liderato, hindi tayo bibigyang tulong ng mga ibang bansa dahil sa sobrang katiwalian sa ating gobyerno (Until we change this leadership, I don't think we will qualify for assistance by other countries because of corruption in this government)," he said.

Roxas said evidence of corruption under President Arroyo cannot be covered up by fancy lobbying as shown by the ongoing Senate investigation into the P728-million fertilizer fund scam that involves former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante.

"Kung tayo ngang mga Pilipino ay walang tiwala sa administrasyong ito, paano na 'yung iba pang bansa? (If we Filipinos don't trust this administration, can we expect otherwise from other countries?)," he asked.

Roxas was the first to reveal that the US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation which handles the so-called Millennium Challenge Account or its development assistance for other countries had given the Philippines failing marks on handling corruption, thus disqualifying the country from receiving aid for our development projects.

"Nang inilabas natin ang balita na ito, ang sagot agad ni GMA at ng Malacanang ay nagsisinungaling tayo. Ngayong lumabas na ang totoo, ang sagot naman nila ay walang karapatan ang Amerika na husgahan tayo sa isyu ng korapsyon (When I first revealed this news, the immediate answer of GMA and Malacanang was that I was not telling the truth. Now that the truth has come out, they are saying the US has no right to judge us on the issue of corruption)," he said.

After Malacanang hit the US government for disqualifying the Philippines from receiving aid from the Millennium Challenge Account, the Philippine ambassador to the United States , Willy Gaa, announced that securing a new compact with the MCC will be the Philippines ' priority in 2009.

"Ano ba ang totoo? Ang katotohanan ay hindi tayo papasa sa isyu ng korapsyon hangga't nakaupo si Gloria (What is the truth? The truth is that we will not pass the issue of corruption as long as Gloria is in power)," Roxas said.