FILE PHOTO: Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (left) and Vice President Leni Robredo (center). INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo’s push for the implementation of a “full disclosure policy” in the government could save the country billions of pesos, which were merely being lost to corruption, senatorial candidate Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday.
Trillanes said the billions of funds lost to corruption could have been used for housing projects and farm-to-market roads.
“Alam naman natin na bilyon-bilyon ang nawawala sa mamamayan dahil sa katiwalian… Ilang milyong pabahay na ‘yan? Ilang kilometro ng farm-to-market roads? Ilang magsasaka, mangingisda o urban poor na ang mabibigyan ng ayuda?” the former senator said.
(We all know that we lose billions of pesos due to irregularities… How many housing units could we have built? How many kilometers of farm-to-market roads? How many farmers, fisherfolk or urban poor could we have provided assistance?)
Citing 2019 data from the Office of the Ombudsman, Trillanes said the government may have lost about P1.4 trillion to corruption in the preceding two years. This amount, he noted, could have been used to construct 1.4 million housing units for the poor or provide medical or educational assistance to at least 7 million Filipinos.
“Maraming magagawa si VP Robredo sa pondong ‘yan (VP Robredo could do a lot with those funds),” Trillanes said.
Robredo earlier said that if she wins the presidency in the upcoming May election, her first executive order would be to implement a policy on transparent governance.
READ: Robredo eyes EO for gov’t agencies to make transactions public
“I firmly believe that only VP Leni has the character and political will to implement this policy to the fullest,” Trillanes said.
“Wala siyang bahid ng katiwalian, hindi siya ang tipo ng taong magbabayad ng utang pulitikal sa mga tumulong sa kanya, at mas lalong hindi siya hawak ng kung sino man,” he added.
(She has no history of irregularities. She is not the type to give back to those who helped her in politics and she is not under anyone.)
Further, Trillanes said Robredo has also shown her ability to utilize the budget efficiently and implement programs despite the limited funds given to the Office of Vice President.
“Doon sa kokonting budget ng kanyang tanggapan, napakarami na niyang nagawa. Paano pa kaya kung siya na ang Pangulo? We can expect great things to happen under her administration,” Trillanes said.
(With that small budget given to her office, she was able to do a lot. What more if she is already the President?)
Trillanes said Robredo’s full disclosure policy is similar to his proposal to livestream all public biddings in the sense that they are both anti-corruption measures.
“Itong ‘full disclosure policy’ ni VP Leni at ang aking panukalang livestream at video recording ng lahat ng public bidding ay malakas na deterrent na laban sa korapsyon,” Trillanes said.
(The full disclosure policy of VP Leni and my proposed livestream and video recording of public biddings are deterrents to corruption.)
“Tulad ni VP Leni, ako rin ay may personal anti-corruption advocacy, at naniniwala ako na kapag automatic ang pagbibigay sa COA (Commission on Audit) at Ombudsman ng recordings ng public bidding ay malaking kabawasan ito sa katiwalian, or at least ‘yung mid-level corruption,” he added.
(Like VP Leni, I also have my personal anti-corruption advocacy and I believe that if we automatically give to COA and the Ombudsman the recordings of the public bidding, then irregularities will be greatly reduced, or at least the mid-level corruption.)