Palace agrees with CBCP on corrupt officials

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has agreed with the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for the people to use this year’s elections to rid the government of corrupt officials.

Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said Malacañang is taking the statement of CBCP president Nereo Odchimar as is and sees no reason to feel alluded to.

“I agree with His Excellency. It is only through the political exercise that we can replace corrupt officials,” Bello said.

“We do not take offense or see any slant in what he said,” he added in Filipino.

In his New Year’s message, Odchimar said the people “through the exercise of their right of suffrage will effect a power shift in the executive and legislative branches of our civil government.”

“We must retain what is good, promote what still needs improvement and discard what is base and corrupt,” Odchimar said.

Bello said President Arroyo has not lost focus on her campaign against corruption in every government agency.

“The campaign against corruption is a continuing crusade as long as we have competent officials,” Bello said.

“We’re trying our best to get rid of corrupt officials,” he added.

Bello noted the administration has removed several corrupt officials through the efforts of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC).

While the PAGC investigates officials in the executive branch, the Office of the Ombudsman still handles the prosecution of the accused officials.

Bello said the private sector should also help the PAGC and the Ombudsman in going after corrupt officials and employees.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar also said Malacañang is “one with Bishop Odchimar’s call to our people to use the electoral process for meaningful change.”

According to Olivar, one of the ways that the administration has contributed to instituting reforms, as espoused by the CBCP, was its commitment to the implementation of automated elections this May.

“It is now up to (Commission on Elections) to administer successful elections and our people to vote only for candidates with the record, platform, character and talent to lead us wisely and well,” Olivar said.