Pacquiao to require bank secrecy waiver for all gov’t officials if he wins presidency

FILE PHOTO: World boxing champ-turned-politician Senator Manny Pacquiao at the Senate floor on March 23, 2020. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB Files)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday that if he is elected president, he will require all government officials to waive their right under the bank secrecy law in a bid to ensure transparency and accountability.

Pacquiao said the waiver would also cover the immediate family members of the government officials.

Further, Pacquiao said he will allow the publication of the Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of all government officials except the details that may be deemed as a breach of their privacy and personal data.

“Hindi lang ako pipirma ng waiver sa bank secrecy. Maging mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno, they will be asked to sign the waiver before they can be appointed. Pati SALN hindi ito itatago sa publiko,” presidential aspirant Pacquiao said in a statement.

(I will not just sign the waiver to bank secrecy. Government officials will also be asked to sign the waiver before they can be appointed. I will also not hide SALN from the public.)

“As public servants, we should be transparent and accountable,” he added.

Pacquiao likewise said that if he wins the presidency, members of his Cabinet will also undergo a regular performance audit.

“We will have an all-out war against corruption. Titiyakin natin na magsasama-sama ang mga kawatan sa kulungan. Walang makakaligtas na kawatan,” Pacquiao said.

(We will ensure that all erring officials will be together in jail. No one will be spared.)

Anticipating the number of people who will be arrested for corruption once he steps into office, Pacquiao reiterated that his first executive action is to issue an executive order mandating the creation of a Mega Prison.

The facility, he said, will be the main detention facility of all officials who are arrested over corruption.

“We have seen how they were able to manipulate the justice system so that they can still live comfortably and easily. May mga props pang mga wheelchair at ‘yung iba may sakit naman daw pero noong nakalaya na sila biglang naging healthy sila, nakakatakbo pa,” Pacquiao said.

(They even have props like wheelchairs while others claim they are sick but once they are free they are suddenly healthy and are even able to run for office.)

“Mawawala na lahat ‘yan sa ating MP (Mega Prison) dahil kumpleto na ito. Titiyakin natin na mararamdaman nila ang hirap na araw-araw na dinadanas ng mga mahihirap na Pilipino,” he also said.

(All of these will be gone with the MP because the facility is complete. We will ensure that they will experience the daily hardships of poor Filipinos.)

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