Lacson to purge govt of corruption

CURBING corruption “would solve 50 percent of the problems” the country faces, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who is running for president under the Partido Reporma banner, said Friday.

Guesting in the “Bakit Ikaw” interview of presidential hopefuls, Lacson vowed to showcase leadership by example to spur people in government to deliver exemplary public service, just as he did when he served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Bakit Ikaw” is a joint undertaking by DZRH radio and The Manila Times.

“On my first day, I will immediately sign a waiver for the bank secrecy law and urge all the Cabinet secretaries, directors, and other government workers to do the same,” Lacson said.

He said his first 100 days in office will be devoted to “a massive

“Ang aking unang lilinisin ay ang gobyerno mismo, kasi walang ibang paraan. Ang publiko sumusunod lamang sa gobyero at kapag nakita nilang maayos ang gobyerno, ay mababalik ang kanilang tiwala at respeto sa ating gobyerno (I WILL CLEAN UP THE GOVERNMENT fiRST BECAUSE THERE IS no other way. The public only follows the government’s lead. If they see an orderly government, their trust and respect will return),” he said.

He vowed to go after individuals and entiTIES WHO PROfiTED BY EMBEZZLING THE PEOPLE’S money, including those involved in the highly questionable Pharmally deal and the misuse of PhilHealth funds.

“Maski sinong tamaan, hahabulin natin (I WILL GO AFTER EVERY CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFfiCIAL. I will spare no one),” he said.

Lacson underscored the need to revise the crafting of the annual budget which he says is another source of corruption.

“We will correct the budget process,” Lacson said, citing his proposed Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (Brave) which is designed to encourage closer collaboration between legislators and implementing agencies to ensure resources are distributed evenly.

In this way, a budget crisis at the deliberation and approval at the bicameral level will be averted so that the appropriation measure is passed on time, he said.

“Ipapaliwanag ko sa kanila na hindi mawawala ang kanilang pet projects. Hindi

mangyayari ang krisis dahil sa budget reform natin hihikayatin ang mga kongresista na makisali (I will explain to them that they will not lose their pet projects. A crisis will not happen because we will encourage the congressmen to take part [in the process]),” Lacson said.

He said he will use his training in intelligence gathering to pinpoint those who will try to tamper with the government’s budget for PERSONAL PROfiT AND MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

“Hindi naman masama ang pork barrel per se. Kulang lang sa planning with the implementing agency (Pork barrel is not bad per se. It just lacks planning with the implementing agency),” Lacson said.