Labor Center calls Arroyo's discretionary funds a fountain of corruption

“The unending search of corrupt politicians to fatten their pockets have led them to the fountain of corruption in the middle of Malacañang operated by no less than Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The amount you get to consume from the fountain is directly proportional to the level of subservience to Arroyo's whim.”

This was the statement today of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center on the latest admission of massive corruption in government by former Manila Mayor and now Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza admittance that cash gifts from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to lawmakers and local government officials are standard operating procedures (SOP).

“Corruption is so ingrained in the political system that people like Sec. Atienza can admit being a party to bribery without even blinking an eyelash. The secretary's statement merely corroborated the earlier expose by Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio and Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza that they both received cash gifts when they visited the Palace. Now the stench is out, it's like carrion to vultures. Expect longer queues of politicians wanting to enter Malacañang and louder squabbles on who gets more,” said Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU.

“Billions of pesos of people money exchange hands all the time in Malacañang, in Congress and especially in golf courses while millions of Filipino families goes to bed without eating and our children dying without even receiving basic medical help. They jeer families who try to eat a decent meal or wear decent clothing as 'maluho' or living beyond their means but they call bribing officials with millions of pesos as normal. Talk about hypocrisy,” opined Labog.

More ammunitions for impeachment case

 

The labor leader stressed the recent expose of the practice of massive corruption and bribery by the Arroyo regime serves as additional ammunition for a stronger impeachment complaint. “Another blow to the regime is the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Prof. Philip Alston pinpointing the counter-insurgency program of the regime as the culprit in many of the political killings and enforced disappearances happening in the country. This regime is not only corrupt but murders its political opponents in its drive for self-preservation,” stated Labog.

“The report of Prof. Philip Alston, along with the response of the International Labour Office (ILO) to the complaint filed by KMU against the regime of Arroyo are massive waves of opinion further isolating the regime in the local and international arena. The Arroyos are clearly outdoing the Marcoses in the field of corruption and human rights violations,” ended Labog.