Philippine leader Gloria Arroyo.MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 15, 2008) - Filipino leader Gloria Arroyo on Friday said that she will focus on reform in the remaining years in the government and vowed to fight corruption even as thousands gathered in Manila to demand for her resignation.
Political oppositions and civil society groups joined by militant organizations marched in Makati City, the country’s financial district where they accused the Arroyo government of corruption brought about by the controversial and failed national broadband deal with Chinese firm, ZTE.
Stressing that one of the key areas of focus for reform in her remaining years in office until 2010 is fighting corruption, Arroyo said she is determined to put a stop to a “legacy of corruption”
In her message at the Philippine Economic Briefing at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel this morning, Arroyo cited the need for moral transformation where government must redouble its efforts.
“We want to fight corruption…We do not want to tolerate corruption,” she said.
Arroyo said it is a sad fact that the Philippines has a “legacy of political corruption” which could not be stopped overnight. However, she said the Arroyo administration has made great strides in its fight against corruption through tough reforms.
She said that these reforms include the creation of the Anti-Red Tape Task Force headed by Trade Secretary Peter Favila, and the Procurement Transparency Group led by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.
She added that to put more teeth in the implementation of anti-corruption measures, she ordered last week the two Cabinet men to “link up with the business sector, academe, and the Church to implement reforms in government procurement systems.”
“Our day in the sun will come if we redouble our efforts to achieve moral transformation, social justice and economic equality,” Arroyo said.
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