Noy cites need to enhance fight vs corruption

TOKYO – President Aquino conceded here yesterday that sending to prison individuals accused of corruption in the country is still needed to give his administration’s anti-corruption effort more credibility.

The President said this to the Filipino community during rites at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center.

The Aquino administration’s campaign promises to end corruption and use government resources wisely to alleviate poverty.

Aside from former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a number of officials and private individuals have been linked to various scandals such as the pork barrel scam.

Aquino said the country’s ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index in 2013 improved from 134th in 2010 to 94th.

The audience applauded the President when he said the ranking would be better “if those who should be in jail would be jailed.”

He said there have been many natural and man-made calamities in the Philippines but the country’s economy continues to be resilient, growing 7.4 percent in the first three quarters of 2013, higher than the target of six to seven percent.

“What was impossible had become possible,” Aquino said, citing higher investment grades from all major credit rating agencies, especially Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings, and Moody’s.

In the Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum, the Philippines jumped from 85th spot in 2010 to 2011 to 59th in 2013 to 2014.

Based on the World Bank and International Finance Corporation’s Ease of Doing Business 2014 Report, the Philippines climbed 30 spots from 138th to 108th.

The report said the Philippines has the most improved economy in 2014.