'No one's untouchable,' says Arroyo on corrupt officials

[Juan Tamad]

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo warned on Friday that her government would not tolerate corruption "in any form" and said no high official was "indispensable or untouchable." At the same time, Arroyo ordered a stop to the use of public funds for the “perks and lavishness” of some government officials.

"The administration will not tolerate corruption in any form and no high officials are indispensable or untouchable on this score," Arroyo said in a statement she read during a news briefing in the municipality of Limay in Bataan province.

“As to the perks or lavishness of officials involving the use of public funds, these should be immediately stopped,” said Arroyo who inspected a refinery of Petron Philippines.

Arroyo said her administration would “continue to take grafters into account as we push for good governance, transparency, and top quality public services.”

The President also urged whistleblowers in corruption cases to bring evidence before the Ombudsman, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), and the courts.

Arroyo acknowledged the role of media "in exposing alleged anomalies," and called on "each official, department, or agency charged or alluded to in such anomalies to set the records straight if the allegations are wrong, or submit themselves to impartial administrative or judicial probes.”

Earlier this week, resigned Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chief Haydee Yorac exposed the alleged overspending of executives of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) using coconut levy funds.

On Thursday, US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said the Philippines could not withdraw up to 20 million dollars from the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) pending refinements in its anti-corruption plan.

In her closing statement during Friday's briefing, Arroyo also appealed to the public for “understanding” as the government puts its fiscal position in order.

Apparently referring to increased taxes, the President said “painful remedies” must be applied to address the country's debt and budget deficit problems.

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Nagpapatawa ba si GMA ......Paano si M1, M2 and JS6?

[BlueBimmer]

'except me n my family' LOL

[KCboy]

untouchable pa din si 1st gentle man and si fav son mikee..

[5Speed]

assholes......

[nicolodeon]

Riiiight. :flush:

And in other news, it has been proven than the world is indeed flat.

[nicolodeon]

...same movie, different actors...

"walang kama-kamaganak, walang kai-kaibigan!"

[chieffy]

lumang tugtugin na...sana di na lang siya nagsalita...

"walang kaibi kaibigan, kamag-anak, blah blah blah blah...blah blah blah"

narinig na ng pinoy iyan di ba???

kung ako siya tatahimk na lang ako...magtrabaho ng maigi para walang masabi ang mga taga suporta ko at mga kaaway ko...kung may big fish na mahuli eh di ihaharap ko na lang sa publiko...job well done...dami problema ng bansa at di na nya dapat pagkaabalahan iyan kung talagang malinis pangalan at pamilya nya...

;)

[zanch]

Yumayaman mga naka upo sa pwesto ngayon sa Malacañang dahil sa Jueteng! Talamak na yan sa Pampanga and mga katabing bayan. Sila dapat patalsikin kasi pahirap sila sa mga mangagawang pilipino na araw araw ay kumakayod para may mapakain lang sa pamilya at di man lang mabigyan tugon ang hiling na pagtaas ng sweldo ng karaniwang pilipino.

[IceColdBeer]

Papabango uli masyado mainit ngayon eh. Malapit na yan konti na lang.

[1D4LV]

puro putak, kulang naman sa tuka..