Roco vows to fight corruption

The Filipino people will see a graft-buster in former education secretary Raul Roco if he wins the presidency next year.

At the 29th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) at the Manila Hotel yesterday, Roco said he intends to battle corruption in the country if he is "blessed" and is elected president next year.

"If we can have no tolerance for corruption, we’ll have more resources to invest," Roco said.

He is running for president under the banner of his political party Aksyon Demokratiko. The Reporma party of former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa and the Probinsya Muna Development Initiatives (Promdi) party of former Cebu Gov. Emilio Osmeña’s are allied with Aksyon Demokratiko.

Roco is announcing his running mate and senatorial slate today at a convention at the Folk Arts Theater in Pasay City.

Roco said the Philippines might become the most corrupt country in the world and be subjected to adverse travel advisories in the coming years if graft and corruption are not addressed by the government.

He cited the report of the international corruption watchdog Transparency International, which monitors corruption and grades countries from zero to 10, with zero indicating the most corrupt and 10 as the most honest.

In 2001, Transparency International gave the Philippines a grade of 2.9. That grade slid to 2.6 in 2002 and 2.5 this year.

"We are going down," Roco said. "It’s the lowest grade we ever received in the 12 years of Transparency International."

He added that "if we do not do something about it, (in the next few years), we’ll be considered the most corrupt country."

"Transparency and accountability" will be Roco’s bywords for the use of public funds.

Roco to lead by example if elected president, adding that "the problem is a lack of... credible leadership. The problem is a lack of government that is respected by the people."

"What Aksyon Demokratiko proposes to submit to the Filipino people is an agenda of HOPE - honest government, opportunity for all, special privileges for none, peace, productivity and prosperity and education and environment for sustainable development," he said.

For his part, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) chairman Miguel Varela expressed satisfaction with Roco’s platform of government.

Roco, Varela said, "was very sure of what he wants to do and he made a very inspiring presentation. He was able to very clearly articulate his vision and how he intends to realize this. At least we know what he will do and what we’ll expect."

PCCI president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said most of the people who heard Roco’s speech were impressed. "That’s a good platform," he said, "but, you know, as (Roco) said himself, it’s the implementation of the platform that is very important... on the basis of his track record, he’ll be able to do it."

Besides battling corruption, Roco wants to pursue the education programs he initiated at the Department of Education (DepEd).

During his tenure as DepEd secretary, Roco implemented free public education at the elementary and high school levels as mandated by the Ganzon Law.

"We increased the survival rate (in school) by merely implementing the Ganzon Law. If we’ll be blessed, we’ll implement the law," Roco said.

He also assured the business leaders that he intends to observe fair play in business and will not allow "influence-peddling" in his administration.

"Implementation of economic policy must be predictable and pursuant to law," Roco said. "Without these, steady increases in investment will be difficult to sustain... We need leaders who will enable the Philippines to recapture its status as one of the most important economies of Asia. The talent for enterprise and competitive spirit of the people are there. The leadership must remove the roadblocks for all these to prosper."

Roco also vowed to initiate reforms in the police and military and to make healthcare services more accessible to Filipinos.

He said the Philippines is not wanting for good, talented and skilled Filipinos, but the government must come up with programs that will enhance these positive aspects of the Filipino.

A strong republic, he said, "does not make a strong nation. Strong people make a strong nation It’s not the strong republic that makes strong people... We must save the Philippines because no one else will save the Philippines for us."