Palace tags SONA exposè an alert vs corruption

MANILA, July 28 (PNA) -- Malacanang sees as a warning against corruption President Benigno Aquino III's decision to bare in his first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) anomalies that allegedly happened during his predecessor's incumbency.

"This should be a lesson for us," said communications group official Herminio 'Sonny' Coloma.

He raised this point, noting President Aquino is determined to address corruption.

Coloma hopes Mr. Aquino's SONA exposè will generate more public vigilance in monitoring government affairs.

Such vigilance is essential in curbing misuse of public funds, he noted.

"People must help expose anomalies," he said.

In his SONA, President Aquino charged Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System showered each of its board of trustees member with multi-million peso bonuses and benefits while the agency failed to pay pension of its retirees.

He also revealed rice government imported during former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's incumbency merely rot in warehouses.

Mr. Aquino likewise bared during his SONA the anomalies in other agencies.

"The future will pay for greed of the past," he noted.

Coverage of the SONA exposè is even limited only since other anomalies happened during the Arroyo administration, he noted.

MWSS Officer-in-Charge Macra Cruz said she will look into the exposè President Aquino made about the agency.

For his part, Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala also said he will discuss with National Food Authority Administrator Lito Banayo this week measures for saving and distributing the long-stored rice Mr. Aquino talked about.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda previously clarified that the President Aquino's maiden SONA is not a tirade against Mrs. Arroyo.

"Only one-third of this SONA is on anomalies during the previous administration," he said.

Lacierda noted the President's governance and legislative agenda account for about two-thirds of this SONA.

Malacanang earlier justified the alleged anomalies' inclusion in the SONA of Mr. Aquino, saying people are entitled to know about these wrongdoings.

"People must know the truth," Coloma said.

Earlier, Malacanang said exposing the anomalies will help people understand the basis for action government will undertake in the next six years to move the country forward.

President Aquino opened his SONA with his exposè but ended this speech on a bright note, saying the administration will go after grafters.

"We'll make them accountable," he said.

The Chief Executive also reassured his administration's efforts to address corruption.

These efforts include forming the Truth Commission tasked with gathering evidence on alleged anomalies during previous administrations.

President Aquino confirmed he will sign this week the executive order creating this commission.

For the 2010 presidential elections, Mr. Aquino campaigned on a platform anchored on addressing corruption nationwide.

He vowed to pursue this platform during his incumbency. (PNA)