Opposition leader lauds PNoy for anti-corruption drive

Hours before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, one of the fiercest critics of the administration lauded President Benigno Aquino III's drive to stamp out corruption in government. In an interview with Kara David on GMA News TV's "News to Go," Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said Aquino's anti-corruption effort is one of the biggest accomplishments of the administration on its first year. "'Yung anti-corruption stance nya maganda yan. I commend him for that, kasi pinangako nya 'yon," she said. But Magsaysay, a staunch ally of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, still criticized Aquino for being "selective" in choosing which corrupt officials to go after, even claiming that there had been a double standard of justice under the present administration. "Isang klase ng hustisya [is] to go after the corruption of the past na talagang they throw the book at the past administration," Magsaysay said. "Pero pagdating naman sa mga kaalyado niya sa pulitika, tila nagiging bingi at bulag si Pangulong Aquino sa mga alleged anomalies."

In the past months, some members of the administration came under fire for unlawful practices which they allegedly committed. One of them is erstwhile Bureau of Corrections head Ernesto Diokno, a close friend of Aquino, who got embroiled in controversy after former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste was found outside the New Bilibid Prison, shedding light on alleged special treatment to high-profile prisoners under Diokno's watch. Meanwhile, Aquino's "shooting buddy," Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres, was "requested" to go on a two-month leave following her alleged involvement in an intra-corporate dispute at Stradcom Corp., the LTO's computer systems provider. Torres has since returned to her post at the LTO in the latter part of June. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda had earlier denied that Aquino's allies and friends in government posts are deemed "untouchables," but Magsaysay seems to believe otherwise. "Kasi sinasabi nila na, mere denial okay na sa akin 'yon, abswelto na ang aking kakampi, yung aking kaklase, yung aking kaibigan at kaalyado. Kaya nga nabansagan 'yung 'KKK' dahil diyan," Magsaysay said. "KKK," which stands for Kaibigan (friends), Kaklase (classmates) and Kabarilan (shooting buddy), is a moniker given by critics of Aquino in reference to the kinds of the President's appointees in government. "Instead na he should treat the employees under him in the same way, parang pinoproteksyonan pa nila eh," Magsaysay added. "Ito po ang magiging challenge sa kanya for the next five years, na dapat yung mga tao working under him, sila ang unang magpapairal ng daang matuwid." FOI for transparency To strengthen Aquino's drive against corruption, Magsaysay said the administration should prioritize the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, one of Aquino's campaign promises. "Nung nangangampanya siya, 'yun po ang ginamit niyang isang rason kung bakit ayaw niya kay GMA, kasi ayaw daw ipasa ang FOI (bill)," Magsaysay stressed. "Eh ngayon namang siya na ang presidente, ayaw din niyang ipasa ang FOI," she added. Magsaysay reminded Aquino that he should make good on his promise to pass the landmark legislation, if only to prove that he is really serious in edging out corruption in government. "Hindi ba kapag may FOI, lalo tayong magiging transparent, lalong accountable? Eh di we're just following what he wants. Pero how come na siya mismo, parang lumamig na sa issue ng FOI?" Magsaysay asked. In a separate interview with the same newscast, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang said Aquino will not talk about the FOI bill during Monday's SONA, and may only mention Reproductive Health Bill in passing if at all "Nasa ilalim po ng opisina ko ang pag-review at pag-draft ng FOI," Carandang said. "Patuloy kaming nakikipagkonsulta sa mga stakeholders, pero sa ngayon hindi pa naipapakita ang final version kay Pangulong Aquino, kaya hindi pa niya naaaprubahan ito at hindi maisasama sa SONA ang FOI bill." Simple living Aside from Aquino's anti-corruption stance, Magsaysay likewise cited the way the President has set an example of how government officials should conduct themselves. "He set the tone ... kasi tinanggal niya yung 'wang-wang,' and [showed] that government officials should conduct themselves frugally," she said. Subsequent actions by Aquino, however, seemed to contradict that impression. "Medyo na-negate 'yun because of the Porsche issue na dinawit si Pangulong Aquino," Magsaysay said. In the early part of the year, news broke that Aquino had purchased himself a new car, a third-hand 2007 Porsche which reportedly cost more than P4.5 million. Critics chided Aquino for his purchase, saying he was not setting a good example when he issued a memorandum prohibiting government agencies from acquiring and using luxury cars for their operations. More than half a year after his extravagant purchase, Aquino decided to part with his Porsche, saying "it is time to let somebody else experience it." — JM Tuazon/RSJ/HS, GMA News