Palace on bribery: Reforms must be done by entire political establishment

A top Malacañang official said today that reforms must be done by the entire political establishment in the wake of allegations that money exchanged hands during a recent Palace meeting.

Public outcry had been raised over alleged cash gifts that congressmen and governors had admitted receiving in a meeting in Malacañang last October 11.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission investigation  should determine if any public funds were disbursed, if any laws were broken, and if any punitive or remedial measures should be taken to deter and prevent violations of law in the future.

"Along with the Palace probe, the political establishment, including the opposition, must undertake its own remedial measures, including campaign finance legislation, which the President had certified as priority in the past," Saludo said.

He added, "Money politics did not start with this administration, and it will not end if only the administration will address it."

Likewise, he warned: "We pay careful attention to the sentiments of our people, including our men and women in uniform, regarding the current controversy."

"We support the call to purge corruption from all three branches of government and across the political spectrum," he said, adding that there is a need to review major agency policies, programs, and projects, to check if there was any undue interference by politicians.

If that is the case, he said, this may require remedial action by the government as well as further investigation by anti-graft bodies.