ROXAS TO GLORIA: FIX DAMAGE TO NATIONAL HONOR
MAKE FILIPINOS PROUD AGAIN OF OUR COUNTRY

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to use everything within her powers to regain the national honor which has been bled dry with the recent controversy involving collusion in government projects funded by the World Bank and other irregularities in her government.

"Madam President, you must and you can fix this mess. Regardless of the consequences to you, to your family, to your official family, our nation's honor is at stake. You are sworn to defend our republic. You are sworn to defend the honor of our nation," he said in a privilege speech this afternoon.

"Mahalaga po ang ating pambansang karangalan. Panindigan po natin ito, depensahan po natin ito (Our country's honor is important. Defend our honor, stand by it)" he said in a privileged speech.

Roxas said that the President should order the "finding and release of the official government copy of this report. Let us know what is inside this report. Only then can we move forward." He added the president can appoint an independent Special Prosecutor to investigate the allegations from the WB, particularly the supposed involvement of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in the bribery that accompanied the awarding of the bids.

"These are all within your powers, Madam President," he stressed, also saying: "We cannot dismiss this as simply part of our hyperactive politics. This is not one charge, if true, that is levied by one political party or one domestic group versus the administration. If true, the allegations contained in this World Bank report portray the Philippines, the Philippine government and the presidential spouse as being part of an effort to steal this money that has been lent to the nation."

He added: "The president is the president of the republic. This is not just about their personal honor. This is not just something that the First Gentleman will have to answer either through counsel or deposition or through Senate hearings. This is a besmirchment, a public, international besmirchment of our nation's honor."

The World Bank had banned 7 firms - three from the Philippines and four from China - from participating in any WB-funded projects in the country after it found them guilty of engaging in collusive practices in the bidding of a road projected implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The lending institution, in its report, had said the bidding was tainted by bribery that involved grease monies given to, among others, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and other government officials.

Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane had told senators during last week's Senate economic affairs committee hearing into the WB corruption issue that the Department of Finance (DoF) was furnished a copy of the full report. The DoF, in turn, sent a copy to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for investigation.

The Ilonggo senator said government action on the issue is imperative, especially since the whole world is now familiar with the WB findings.

"Make no mistake about it: This is not about GMA or FG, more than the two of them. This is about the honor of the Republic of the Philippines. We are being portrayed, if true, if contained in this report, we are being portrayed as a nation of grafters, where official organs are intimately engaged in the stealing of the people's money, including, the presidential spouse. This has nothing to do with opposition to the president, or fiscalizing of the president. This is about the reputation and honor of the Philippines and the Filipino people."