Aquino to erring officials: My patience has run out

MANILA, Philippines - In his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Benigno Aquino III lashed out against government officials who remain incompetent and corrupt on the "Tuwid na Daan."

In his speech that lasted for over an hour, Aquino used strong words to warn government officials and employees that they will be held accountable for their supposed inefficiency and dishonesty.

"But let us be honest: Even today, there are still those in government who seemingly refuse to change. It is disheartening to discover the depth and breadth to which they have branched out in the bureaucracy; the moment we look away, someone is sure to be taken advantage of and victimized," Aquino said in his speech.

"And for those employees who refuse to turn their backs on the culture of wang-wang: my patience has run out. You were given three years to demonstrate your readiness to change; now, I shall pursue all of you and hold you accountable. No hard feelings," the President continued.

Aquino named some government agencies accused of wrongdoing and incompetence such as the Bureau of Immigration, National Irrigation Authority and the Bureau of Customs.

He said despite his repeated admonishing of the Bureau of Immigration to improve their watch over the country's ports and airports, the top fugitives have still managed to escape.

"How then was it possible for the brothers Joel and Mario Reyes, the principal suspects in the slaying of Gerry Ortega, to leave the country?  How could the escape of the Korean Park Sungjun—as blatantly seen in CCTV footage—have taken place?," said Aquino.

Aquino also hit the "make-do culture" in the NIA, whose former head was recently scolded by the President himself.

"The “make-do” culture at the NIA has also tested our patience. Instead of laying out plans for new irrigation systems, they are merely content with the continued rehabilitation of existing irrigation. For them, shoddy repairs are enough to say they have already done a good job," the President said.

The Bureau of Customs, meanwhile, has personnel who are "trying to outdo each other’s incompetence," according to Aquino.

"Instead of collecting the proper taxes and preventing contraband from entering the country, they are heedlessly permitting the smuggling of goods, and even drugs, arms, and other items of a similar nature into our territory," the President said.

He reported that according to the Department of Finance, over P200 billion in revenue slips through the country's borders without going into public coffers.

"Saan po kayo kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha ang mga kawani sa ahensyang ito?" Aquino said, drawing applause from the audience.