President Benigno Aquino III
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 17, 2012) – Filipino leader Benigno Aquino continues to focus on inclusive growth for the economy and in his speech at the inauguration of the D’Luxe Bags Philippines, the President said that while his administration holds fast to its commitment to good governance, it also would not waver in pursuing equitable economic growth, citing solid accomplishments such as creating an additional 2.1 million jobs last year, as well as increasing tourist arrivals by about a million additional visitors in 2011.
Aquino graced the event of the luxury bag factory in Tarlac.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Tuesday also said that confidence in the reform agenda of the Aquino administration was recently expressed by a delegation of U.S. Congressmen, led by Representative Harold Rogers, who said: “Certainly we can attest to the fact that this administration is doing all it can to right the wrongs of the past.”
“The great strides that have been made in curbing corruption, fighting poverty, and promoting good governance—the achievements of the past one and a half years—are only indicators of the changes that will continue to sweep the Philippines in the coming years,” he said.
Impeachment Trial
Meanwhile, Lacierda said the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the Senate demonstrated its independence and seriousness in undertaking its constitutional duties.
“This early, we have seen the legalistic manner by which the defense hopes to muddle the truth and bog down the proceedings. This is merely a demonstration of how the entire apparatus of control of the Arroyos and their allies is falling apart, increasingly unable to stonewall in order to hinder the quest for the truth,” he said.
Having politicized the judiciary to an unprecedented level, the calling to account of the Chief Justice presents the prospect of the judiciary finally being liberated from the chains of political indebtedness and partisanship, Lacierda said.
He said the public has expressed every confidence in the Senate going about its duties in impeachment with fairness, undeterred and not fooled by the conspiracy theories and cheap propaganda of the Chief Justice.
“A judiciary liberated from self-serving disregard of its obligations to the Constitution and our people will be a judiciary that will be able to contribute to political stability, economic growth, and attracting investments and creating jobs,” he said.
World Bank report on the Judiciary
Lacierda said the World Bank report on Judicial Reform Support Program (JRSP) is genuine after the opposition doubted its authenticity.
“It seems that what the World Bank has done is clarify that it did not release the report to the media, but a careful reading of its statement shows that they did not deny the authenticity of the report itself,” he said.
“We have verified with officials who were furnished copies of the World Bank report that the version uploaded by a media outfit online, and theirs, are a match. The report details the expenditures declared ineligible for World Bank funding. It also demanded a refund from the Supreme Court for expenses that were not covered by the grant,” he added.
Lacierda said it was interesting to note that neither the Corona
“What the Chief Justice has egregiously misrepresented is that the report didn’t cover his period in office; while his spokesman dodged the issue by calling it “unfair” and the truth is the report specifically covers the period of Mr. Corona being Chief Justice,” he said.
“As the President has pointed out, the report proves the pressing need for reforms in the judiciary. The reforms the present Chief Justice, who has lost his moral ascendancy, is incapable of achieving. The ongoing impeachment of the Chief Justice is thus a vital step in the process of reforming the judiciary, so that it can finally deliver true justice, speedily and impartially, to our people,” Lacierda said.
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