Press Release
February 18, 2009

Show sincerity in moral renewal drive
Chiz dares Arroyo to back 2 anti-corruption measures

Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday dared President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to show sincerity in her "moral renewal" campaign by backing two anti-corruption bills seeking the exemption of government officials from the Bank Secrecy Law and imposing penalties on influence peddlers in government.

He made the call after Arroyo ordered Cabinet officials to lead a "moral renewal" campaign following the latest allegations of corruption involving the First Gentleman and other former solons and officials of her administration. "A legacy of corruption is the last thing you want the public to remember you by when you step down from office," he said in a statement.

Escudero said Arroyo can show her sincerity by endorsing the passage of SB No. 1746, which aims to exempt government officials from the Bank Secrecy Act, and SB No. 1242 that seeks to penalize influence peddling or the mere act of representing oneself to another person having a transaction or request with the government.

He pointed out that the allegations of bid-rigging in the World Bank road-building project, as well as the purported payoffs in the case of the "Alabang Boys", requires immediate, strong corrective responses from government.

"The law should not be a refuge of scoundrels posing as public servants," said Escudero.

Last January 30, Arroyo issued Administrative Order 225 ordering cabinet officials to launch "moral renewal" campaigns in their respective agencies.

"The public trust in government has been eroded by numerous allegations of wrongdoing by government officials and personalities close to the administration," the opposition senator said.

As chair of the committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, Escudero held a hearing last Tuesday on proposed changes to the government procurement act. He filed SB No. 1476 in 2007 in a bid to plug loopholes in the Government Procurement Act.

"Transparency and open governance should be the norm because that's the only way we can truly clean up the system and restore public trust," he emphasized.

Escudero said it is the poor who are ultimately the victims of corruption in government, pointing out that it diverts funds intended for crucial social services - such as healthcare, education and housing.

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