Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Mga panibagong kaso na naman ng korupsyon ang isinampa ng ating pamahalaan sa ilang kawani ng ating gobyerno, kabilang na dito ang ilang mga opisyal ng BIR at Bureau of Customs.

Ako ay nagagalak at patuloy na nagkakaroon ng magandang resulta itong ating pinaigting na kampanya laban sa korupsyon sa iba’t-ibang ahensiya ng ating pamahalaan. Isang kampanyang hindi lamang nakatuon sa pagpaparusa sa mga nagkasala kundi sa pagbawi ng mga ninakaw sa ating pamahalaan at sa taong bayan.

Bilyun-bilyong piso ang nawawala sa kaban ng taong bayan taon-taon dahil sa korupsyon, kaya hindi lamang dapat maparusahan ang mga nagnanakaw na ito kundi kailangan maibalik nila ang kanilang ninakaw.

Ang nakakasiya sa pinaigting na kampanyang ito ay ang katotohanang ang lahat ng antas sa ating pamahalaan ay aktibo dito – ang lehislatibo, sa paglalabas ng mga karagdagang batas para lalong mapasigla ang kampanyang ito; ang hudikatura, para mabigyang katarungan ang mga kasong kaugnay dito; at ehekutibo, na nagsasakatuparan ng mga batas na may kaugnayan dito.

Halimbawa sa parte ng Kongreso, nitong nakaraang Enero lamang ay ipinasa nito at nilagdaan ko naman kaagad ang R.A. 9184 o ang Government Procurement Reform Act na kung saan lahat ng mga bidding ay gagawin ng on-line o e-procurement. Nakabawas ng malaki ito sa mga anomalya sa pamimili ng ating gobyerno. It has helped improve efficiency, standardized bidding procedures and encouraged competition. Nariyan din ang ipinasa nilang Anti-Money Laundering Act na panangga laban sa tinatawag na "dirty money", at isang paraan para mabawasan ang korupsyon sa ating banking system.

Ang ating hudikatura naman kamakailan lamang ay may mga desisyon na lubhang ikinasiya ng taong-bayan. Kabilang na dito ang desisyon na ang coco levy, na bilyon-bilyong piso na ngayon ang halaga, ay tunay na pag-aari ng mga magniniyog at ang daan-daang milyong dollar na deposito sa Switzerland ill-gotten at dapat lamang maibalik sa Pilipinas. Ito ay mga ay desisyong ikinatuwa ng milyun-milyong Pilipino, higit sa lahat ang mga land reform beneficiaries.

Samantala, hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na magpasa ng batas na maglalaan ng 8 bilyong piso bilang kabayaran ng mga human rights victims noong martial law.

Kami namang nasa ehekutibo ay lubos at patuloy ang pagkilos laban sa korupsyon dahil ang lahat ng mga taong-gobyerno ay dapat maglingkod ng may dignidad at responsibilidad. Kaya nga bilang Pangulo at punong-ehekutibo, ang unang Administrative Order na aking ipinalabas ay tungkol sa pagpapalaganap ng malinis na pamamahala o good governance, at dito ipinagbawal ko sa lahat ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na makipag-negosasyon sa aking mga kamag-anak at kamag-anak ng aking asawa, tungkol sa kontrata, supply o appointments sa mga posisyon.

Inatasan ko rin ang lahat ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan na magbuo ng kanilang Internal Audit System para tiyakin ang maayos at malinis na pagpapatakbo ng kani-kanilang tanggapan.

Itinatag ko ang Presidential Anti-Graft Commission na siyang nag-iimbestiga at dumidinig sa mga kasong administratibo ng lahat ng presidential appointees. Kasama ang Civil Service Commission, Office of the President, NBI at PNP, isinasagawa nila ang lifestyle check sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, kasama na ang mga huling kinasuhan mula sa BIR at BoC.

Binuo rin natin ang Bureau of Customs Task Force on Good Governance and Anti-Corruption para maipatupad ng mabuti ang Customs Code of Conduct and Rules of Ethics.

Pilit na rin nating inaalis ang red tape sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng pagbabawas ng mga dapat pumirma sa mga papeles. Halimbawa sa housing permits, dati umaabot sa 90 days ang processing, ngayon ay 30 to 45 days na lamang. At ang mga pumipirma ay nabawasan mula 188 hanggang 40 na lamang.

Pinaiiral na rin natin ang "Substitute Filing System" sa pag-file ng Income Tax Returns para doon sa purely income earners, na ikinasiya ng may tatlong milyong taxpayers dahil hindi na sila kailangan pumila pa para mai-file ang kanilang ITR.

Naglunsad din tayo ng kampanya laban sa mga taong may mga pekeng professional licenses.

Naglagay din tayo ng Resident Ombudsman sa bawat ahensiya ng gobyerno para maaksyunan kaagad ang mga tiwaling opisyal at kawani ng pamahalaan.

Lingid marahil sa kaalaman ng karamihan, ilang libong kawani at opisyal mula sa ibat-ibang ahensiya ng ating pamahalaan ang nahaharap ngayon sa iba’t-ibang kaso sa mga tanggapang may hurisdiksyon sa kanilang mga indibidwal na usapin. Kabilang na dito iyong mga sensational cases kamakailan, tulad ng mga DPWH officials na sangkot sa vehicle repair scam, iyong mga opisyal ng PEA na sangkot sa ma-anomalyang pagpapagawa ng President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, yung mga sangkot sa pag-divert sa private account ng taxpayers money sa Land Bank, yung limang judges na involved sa corruption cases, at marami pang iba, kabilang na ang may 20,000 na indibidwal na taxpayers.

Ito ay ilan lamang sa ating mga nagawa at patuloy na ginagawa para maayos at malinis ang takbo ng ating pamahalaan. Pero ang lahat ng mga ito ay lubos na magtatagumpay lamang kung ang ating mismong mamamayan ay lubos din suporta, kung kayo mismo ang magmamatyag at magsusuplong ng mga katiwaliang nangyayari sa inyong paligid. Marami na rin sa atin ang gumagawa ng mga pagbabantay at pagsusuplong na ito. Ang iba nga ay bumubuo pa o sumasali sa mga organisasyon para mas matatag nilang maisagawa ito. Pero ang karamihan pa rin ay takot dahil ayaw nilang madawit sa kaso o kaya ay takot sila sa maaring maging ganti ng kanilang isusuplong.

Ito ngayon ang binibigyan ko ng matamang atensyon kung papaano natin mapoprotektahan ang mga may malasakit na ito sa ating pambansang kapakanan. Sa ibang bansa tulad ng Amerika ay may mga batas ukol dito – na kung saan ang ganitong mga mamamayan na kung tawagin nila ay whistleblowers ay binibigyan ng proteksyon ng pamahalaan. Alam ko na sa ating Kongreso ay may panukalang batas na ukol dito at naghihintay lamang ng delibirasyon.

Sa parte naman ng ehekutibo ay inatasan ko na ang PAGC na pag-aralang mabuti ang bagay na ito at magbigay sa akin ng rekomendasyon sa lalong madaling panahon. Kailangang mabigyan natin ng sapat na proteksyon at pangangalaga ang mga nagmamalasakit sa ating bansa.

As I have said before, we shall crack down on corruption in the same degree that we are cracking down on terror and drugs. We will punish officials at any level in accordance with due process. Corruption does not only bring disgrace to the public service but strikes at the root of national security and stability. We cannot allow the few bad eggs to tarnish the good name and prestige of the majority of civil servants who serve honestly and devotedly. I encourage a professional ethic that stand on simplicity and forthright public service, untainted by pomp and show and on inordinate display of influence of power.

Gusto kong tiyakin na ang ating mamamayan ay nabibigyan ng serbisyong matapat at malinis na nararapat lamang sa kanila.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed confidence that the country would be drug-free within a year as the authorities further tightened the noose around a Chinese national believed to be the third largest manufacturer in the Philippines by raiding his townhouse in Pasay City and uncovering another P3.5 billion worth of illegal drugs, precursors and equipment.

The President said that this was the biggest drug haul in the history of law enforcement in the country as she congratulated the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly the task force headed by Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for "a very good job."

"I commend all the members, all the task forces under the PDEA … they have done a very good job," said the President during an inspection this morning of the Pasay city townhouse of Li Ya Lan alias Jackson Dy, listed as No. 3 in the order of battle of the PDEA.

It was the second successful strike in two days against Dy, whose seaside mansion in Barangay Capipisa, Taqnza, Cavite was raided yesterday and found to be what the PDEA and the Philippine National Police called "the mother of all drug factories in the country."

The President said that at the rate the law enforcement authorities are going and with the support of the community and based on the current successful anti-drug campaigns, "maybe we can hope and dream that within a year, Metro Manila will be drug-free."

On Friday, the President also personally inspected the biggest shabu laboratory and warehouse in Barangay Capipisa where a 10-foot pressurized chamber that can produce 30 kilograms of shabu daily valued at P60 million, was found.

This morning, another raid was conducted on Dy’s townhouse on Lancaster St. in Pasay City where P3.5 billion worth of shabu and chemicals, including ephedrine and iodine, as well as shabu-making equipment and paraphernalia, were discovered and seized by authorities.

Dy, who was arrested Friday at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila, reportedly admitted to the PNP anti-drug task force that he maintained the shabu laboratory in Tanza, Cavite.

Aglipay said it is possible that the "state of the art" drug factory in Tanza, Cavite, probably the biggest uncovered by the police since l997, was exporting shabu to other Southeast Asian countries.

Five other Chinese nationals, identified as Li Tian Wah, Yao Shiao Mei, Li Huo Long, Sy Suan Hong, and Wang Li Na, were also arrested.

Aglipay, chief of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Drugs, said Dy and his companions would be slapped with drug charges and violations of immigration laws.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today her administration will crack down on corruption in the same degree that it is now cracking down on terror and drugs.

In a radio message this morning, the President said the government will punish officials at any level in accordance with due process.

"Corruption does not only bring disgrace to the public service but strikes at the root of national security and stability," she said.

"We cannot allow the few bad eggs to tarnish the good name and prestige of the majority of civil servants who serve honestly and devotedly."

She encouraged a professional ethic that stand on simplicity and forthright public service, "untainted by pomp and show and on inordinate display of influence and power."

The President expressed elation over the results on her intensified campaign against corruption which she said focuses not only in punishing the guilty but also in recovering whatever loot that belongs to the government and the people.

Concerted efforts by the legistlative, judiciary and the executive branches of government, she said have exposed those who are doing the people a great disservice.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered tonight the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to hunt down and arrest a small band of rogue junior officers and soldiers who have deserted their posts and illegally brought weapons with them.

The order came following the uncovering of a plot by this same group to undermine the chain of command and engage in an unconstitutional adventurist exercise, according to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya.

"In the spirit of dialogue and understanding, I have bent backwards and listened to the legitimate grievances of some of our young officers, they being officers and gentlemen, imbued with honor and loyalty to the Flag and Constitution," the President said.

"But in spite of this, these rogue officers have broken the AFP’s chain of command. They have broken the law. They will be court martialed."

The 10 unaccounted officers have been identified as follows:

1. LTSG Antonio F. Trillantes IV PN
2. LTSG James A. Layug PN
3. CAPT Gerardo O. Gambala PA
4. CPT Laurence Louis Somera PA
5. CPT Milo Maestrecampo PA
6. CPT Albert Baloloy
7. 1LT Laurence San Juan
8. 1LT Florentino Somera PA
9. 1LT Jose Enrico Demetrio Dingle PA

10.1LT Warren Lee G. Dagupon PA

Following is the President’s statement:

On my orders, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are hunting down to arrest a small band of rogue junior officers and soldiers who have deserted their posts and illegally brought weapons with them.

They are fugitives from military justice. This is an exercise doomed from the start. It has no moral cause. It violates the welfare of the people, aggravates their prevailing hardships, and affects their jobs and livelihood.

In the spirit of dialogue and understanding, I have bent backwards and listened to the legitimate grievances of some of our young officers, they being as officers and gentleman, imbued with honor and loyalty to the Flag and the Constitution.

But in spite of this, these rogue officers have broken the AFP’s strict chain of command. They have broken the law. They will be court-martialed.

The Republic of the Philippines will exact the maximum penalty for the purveyors of mutiny or rebellion. This warning extends to unscrupulous politicians who exploit the messianic complex of these rogue officers for their naked ambitions.

I call on our people to be vigilant and denounce these misguided elements.

I assure all that we are in full control of the situation.

Following is AFP Chief of Staff Narciso Abaya’s statement:

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has uncovered a plot by some rogue junior officers and soldiers to undermine the chain of command, break ranks and engage in an unconstitutional adventurist exercise. We have confirmed that these officers and soldiers have deserted their posts bringing with them weapons and have associated themselves with some groups with personal and or political interest.

I have already issued orders for them to be arrested, charged and court-martialed for mutiny and conspiracy to commit rebellion. We are closely monitoring the situation and we will keep the public informed.