GMA to ask Congress to pass corruption reform law

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Arroyo said yesterday she will ask Congress to come up with appropriate measures aimed at addressing corruption after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gave her a reprieve and rejected the mounting clamor for her resignation brought about by alleged anomalies in the administration.

“We will work to fight the corruption that still plagues our nation,” the President told The STAR during an interview here at the Davao International Airport.

“For instance, I will ask Congress to pass a Comprehensive Corruption Reform Act,” said the President, who arrived here yesterday for the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Mindanao cluster conference held at a local hotel here.

Mrs. Arroyo explained that  officials shall be held accountable for their actions should they be found to be corrupt.

“We will let the chips fall, as the investigation will proceed and friend and foe alike are brought to account for their actions in the proper court and with the proper due process,” she added.

Mrs. Arroyo said the refusal of the CBCP to call for her resignation would be a good starting point for her to work on what needs to be done in the remaining days of her term.

“I know I am not perfect but I would work hard everyday in order to achieve positive and lasting change,” she said.

She said she would continue to push for a strong economy  in order to help the poor. “Without a strong economy, we cannot help the poor.”

“My main concern is, there are so many things that are left to be done. And I plan to work until the last day of my term to fulfill our Philippine Reform Agenda,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo stressed that what is equally important for her is to fight for the country’s economy, environment and education.

“I count the fight for a strong economy, to cut poverty by half in 2015, the fight for a clean environment and the fight to have quality education, as the most important imperatives of our time,” she said.