Senator-elect Robin Padilla attends a briefing on the legislative process Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Padilla topped the recent May 9 national elections, outvoting incumbent and returning veteran senators. Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva Espana, Albert Calvelo
MANILA, Philippines — Government officials involved in corruption must voluntarily resign, senator-elect Robin Padilla said on Tuesday.
For Padilla, merely apologizing is not enough to fix the problem, noting that the failure to hold government officials accountable for their actions is the larger problem.
“Bakit tanggalin lang? Alam niyo ang tinuro po sa akin ng Development Academy of the Philippines, dito sa ating bayan kulang sa accountability ‘yung ating mga naka-posisyon sa gobyerno. Hindi pwedeng puro sorry,” he answered in an interview at the Senate when asked if officials involved in smuggling must be removed under the incoming administration of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
(Why only remove them? The Development Academy of the Philippines taught me that government officials in the country lack accountability. Always saying sorry is not enough.)
“Kayo ay nanumpa sa harapan ng Panginoong Diyos at nanumpa sa harapan ng taumbayan na kayo ay magsisilbi at poproteksyunan ninyo ang sambayanang Pilipino tapos kayo ang mag-uumpisa ng kalokohan?,” he added.
(You pledged before God and the people to serve and protect the public, then you will start the mess?)
Padilla then urged erring officials to voluntarily resign to show delicadeza or the value of maintaining one’s dignity.
“Sa akin pong palagay, kung sino man po talaga ang mapapatunayan diyan, unang-una, mag-resign ka. Dapat uso na sa Pilipinas ‘yung ganyan, ‘yung resignation,” he said.
(For me, those proven to be corrupt, first, resign. That should be the trend in the country. )
“‘Pag naimbestigahan ka, unahan mo na kaagad ng resignation. Sana magkaroon na tayo ng ganu’ng klaseng delicadeza. Hindi ‘yung ‘pag naimbestigahan ka dito sa atin kasi nakakapit tuko pa rin sa posisyon niya,” he went on.
(When you are being investigated, resign. I hope we will have that delicadeza. Here, when officials are investigated, they cling the more to their position.)
Earlier, a Senate panel flagged 31 pending smuggling cases involving almost P848 million worth of smuggled goods.