Aquino-Roxas commit to curb graft, corruption in government

Liberal Party standard bearers Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas today reiterated their commitment to curb graft and corruption in public office in a bid to finally allow the nation achieve its dream of real progress and development.

Both Aquino and Roxas echoed the assurance Monday morning during a live interview with GMA-7's Arnold Clavio in the morning program "Unang Hirit: Hiritan 2010."

The LP presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, vowed to start to make changes first in themselves - "by doing the right things, give value to excellence and integrity and rejecting mediocrity and dishonesty, and by giving priority to others over ourselves."

"Ang misyon ko maibangon ang bansa (My mission is to improve the country)," Roxas said citing the reason why he set aside his personal presidential ambition and instead gave to Aquino the chance to become the LP's standard bearer for the May 10 national elections.

He said he and Aquino are committed to transformational leadership and are determined fighters of corruption, willing to provide a government that conjures economic growth, provide better health care and quality education to marginalized sector, and provide job generation to the people that would able them to rise from poverty.

"Ang aming pangarap ay isang maunlad na bansa kung saan ang kabataan ay magawang maabot nila ang kanilang mga pangarap (Our agenda is for the country to become develop and progress wherein the youth can be able to achieve their dreams)," he said.

He added that this platform is their commitment to change that Filipinos can depend on. "With trust in their leaders, everyone can work and build a greater future together," he also said.

On the question of how they would encourage the youth, especially the still undecided and those who have yet to make their choices, Roxas appealed to young voters to review their candidates' record in public service and their platform of government and compare these to other candidates.

"We have no record of corruption, and this we are proud of," he stressed.

Roxas likewise said that his and Aquino's personal and political relationship as a tandem are strong and said they are not affected by political gossips from their rivals' camps attempting to wedge a gap between them.