Partido Reporma vows to lead crusade vs government corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Saying it could no longer stay silent on the corruption pervading in the country, a political party has vowed to lead a sustained crusade against all forms of venality among public officials.

The party, led by former speaker Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, said in a statement yesterday that the public should not remain silent as their silence would make them complicit in the “growing cancer of corruption that has infected every facet of Philippine life.”

The party’s statement was posted by its spokesman, veteran journalist Ramon Tulfo, on his Facebook page.

“We have organized ourselves to launch a sustained crusade against corruption,” it said, including monitoring “strict compliance with RA 6713,” the code of conduct for public officials and employees; “participate in public discourse in various aspects of governance and engage all sectors of Philippine society in the crusade against corruption.”

”Demanding full accountability and transparency,” the party wants public officials to “match promises versus actual accomplishments” and report to their constituents like the presidential State of the Nation Address.

Officials must also ensure public access to their statements of assets and liabilities and “insitutionalize People’s Day in the Executive and Legislative branches of government.”

The party’s secretary general, Clint Aranas, clarified they are not singling out the administration of President Marcos in their call for reforms against corruption.

“It’s a recurring problem. Why don’t we do something?” he said in a phone interview.

He said the lack of investor confidence in the country due to corruption worries them.

Stressing the importance of the country’s youth, Aranas said they are pushing to educate them so they can choose the country’s future leaders wisely.

“We want to influence the young, start them young,” he said.