Poe: Corrupt officials lurk in PH gov’t

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER.net PHOTO

Pampanga, Philippines—Corrupt officials continue to lurk in government until now, Senator Grace Poe said on Thursday.

Poe made this remark as she continued to defend herself against criticisms that she lacks experience to lead the country.

“Alam niyo, sabi nila bago lang daw ako. Hindi daw masyadong dapat pagkatiwalaan ang bago. E pero ang problema, marami naman silang matagal na diyan pero hindi pa rin nila nalulutas ang marami nating problema, marami pa ring corrupt sa gobyerno hanggang ngayon,” she said during a mini-rally held at Mauaque Resettlement Site Covered Court in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

(You know, they say I’m a newbie. They say people should not trust newbies. But the problem is many of the politicians have been in the public service for a long time already, yet they haven’t found solutions to most of our problems, there are still many corrupt in the government until now.)

READ: Poe: You don’t have to be in gov’t for so long to be President

“Wala namang masama sa bago, ‘di ba? Gusto nga natin ng bagong saing, bagong ligo, bagong bahay, bagong buhay, bagong bayan, bagong Pilipinas, kung saan wala sa inyo napapabayaan, o iiwanan. Dapat maramdaman ng lahat ang yaman ng bayan at hindi mapunta sa bulsa ng iilan lamang,” she added.

(There is nothing wrong with being a newbie, right? In fact, we want newly cooked rice, fresh from the shower, new house, new life, new nation, new Philippines where no one will be neglected and left behind. The wealth of our country must be enjoyed by everyone and not just go to the pockets of those who are corrupt.)

READ: Poe: Nothing wrong with being a newbie

Poe reiterated that her administration would spare no one, who has committed any wrongdoing, whether they are allies or foes.

“Iyan ang aking panata sa inyo dahil kaibigan man kita o kaaway kita, kung mali ang ginawa mo hindi kita kakampihan,” she said.

(That would be my vow, because whether you’re my friend or foe, if you have committed any wrongdoing, you will not be spared.)

“Kailangan magbayad ang may utang. Kailangan tulungan ang nangangailangan. Iyan ang tinuturo sa akin ni FPJ, na maging matapang pero huwag maging mayabang. Importante itong mga bagay na katulad nito,” she said, referring to her adoptive father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr.

(Those who have committed wrongdoings should pay for their acts. Those who need help should be assisted. Those are what FPJ has taught me, to be brave but not be cocky. These things are important.)

As in her other sorties, Poe promised the people here that if she gets elected in the upcoming May national elections, she would push for a free kinder-to-college education for indigents and a free lunch program in all public day care centers and elementary schools nationwide within her first 100 days in office.

She also reiterated the need to lower income taxes in order to increase the take-home pay of teachers and other salaried workers, provide livelihood opportunities for women and intensify the fight against criminality and illegal drugs. RAM