Aquino: Biggest challenge is to change government system

REINA MERCEDES, Isabela — For President Benigno Aquino III, the biggest challenge to his 100-day-old administration is to change the system that had been reduced to its "worst form" during the nine-year rule of his predecessor, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "Siguro yung biggest challenge… is trying to replace a system that has been in the country in its worst form for practically the last 10 years," Aquino told reporters in a chance interview here on Friday. Aquino, who took his oath as president last June 30, marked his 100th day in office on Friday. However, he delivered his report on his first 100 days on Thursday because he had to attend the Philippine National Corn Congress in this province. "In a hundred days, in three months' time, how do you really change the attitude of everybody that things are different, things have to really change?" said the president, whose electoral victory was hinged on a vow to end corruption. In his "First 100 Days" report delivered Thursday, Aquino took a dig at the administration of his predecessor. "Malalim at malawak po ang mga problemang minana natin. Nag-ugat ito sa isang gobyernong parang tatlong matsing na nagbingi-bingihan, nagbulag-bulagan, at gumawa ng sariling katotohanan (We inherited deep and wide problems, stemming from a government that was like the proverbial monkeys that pretend not to hear, not to see, and creates its own truth)," he said. Warning those who cling to power that their days were numbered, Aquino said: "Hindi po kami nagbibiro sa pagtahak sa tuwid na landas. Kayong mga mali ang palakad at pinipinsala ang mga kababayan natin, may taning kayong lahat (We are not joking about following the straight path. Those who have wrong practices and harm our countrymen, your days are numbered)." Aquino then reiterated his warning on Friday. "Some people think I'm not serious, and they will be in the front pages in the next few days," he stressed. Executive orders Aquino had repeatedly said he inherited several problems from the Arroyo administration. This is the reason why his first legal issuances deal with the previous administration. These are: Executive Order No. 1, which created the Truth Commission that will look into corruption scandals in the Arroyo administration. EO No. 2, which revoked Arroyo's "midnight appointments." EO No. 3, which voided Arroyo's Executive Order (EO) No. 883 that granted automatic Career Executive Service ranks to lawyers in the executive department. EO No. 7 which suspended the bonuses and allowances of the board of directors or trustees of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs), except “reasonable" per diem allowances, until a new guidelines on their compensation has been issued. However, Executive Orders 1, 2 and 3 are now being legally challenged before the Supreme Court. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV