VP Leni on anti-corruption measures in gov’t: “System must force a government official to be good”

To fight corruption in the Philippines, Vice President Leni Robredo emphasized the need to strictly implement anti-corruption measures in government, and not to merely rely on public officials to be good.

“Hindi enough for a public official to be good. But there has to be a system which will force him to be good,” she said at the CNN Philippines Presidential Debate held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, University of Sto. Tomas (UST) on Sunday, February 27.

Robredo also declared that her anti-corruption practices started as soon as she was proclaimed as Camarines Sur congresswoman in 2013, which ensured that her office was never offered bribes.

“Yung unang-una kong ginawa pagkatapos ng ako ay nahalal bilang Congresswoman, kinausap ko ‘yung aking mga taga-distrito, mga negosyante, mga kasama ko sa distrito. Sinabi ko na kaklaruhin natin, walang makikipag-usap sa akin tungkol sa mga kontrata; walang makikipag-usap humihingi ng mga favors na bibigyan sila ng special preferences,” she said.

Robredo also reminded voters of her track record since serving as a member of the House of Representatives, where the first bills she filed were proposed measures she filed were anti-corruption measures.

“Mayroong measures on transparency, merong yung Full Disclosure law, yun ang pinakaunang bill na finile ko. Yung Freedom of Information law, accountability measures; ‘yung people empowerment measures—dahil palagay ko ito talaga yung pinaka mahalaga para mabawasan yung korupsyon,” she said.

Robredo said she takes pride in the fact that for the last three consecutive years, the Office of the Vice President has received the highest Commission on Audit (COA) rating.

“Unqualified opinion lagi. Pagpapakita na ang resibo nandiyan dahil talagang ayaw namin sa korupsyon,” she said.

Robredo also answered that should she be elected President, she would prioritize looking into the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). [End]