Ochoa to CESOs: Help gov’t stamp out corruption

Press Release
May 30, 2012

MALACAÑANG  –  Saying that the Aquino administration is serious in weeding out grafters and corrupt officials from government, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Wednesday asked civil servants to shun this practice that has plagued the bureaucracy and help rebuild the moral foundation in public service.

At the 2011 Gawad CES Awards and the mass oath-taking of newly appointed and promoted career executive service officers (CESOs) in Malacanang, Ochoa said public servants could become agents of change and contribute in putting an end to irregularities in government.

“Don’t allow yourselves to become participants in any of the wrongdoings you see in government. It would be a big help in our campaign against graft and corruption,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa explained that the events at the recently-concluded impeachment trial that led to the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution should open the eyes of the public and civil servants that the reforms being undertaken by the administration were beyond personalities.

“From the start, we are very much aware of the problems that we’re confronting. Graft and corruption is on top of the list and this our best chance, under this administration, to really institute reforms needed to fight graft and corruption,” the Executive secretary said.

Ochoa said he was optimistic that the administration would be able to lay down a strong moral foundation in public service and would be able to curb graft and corruption by the end of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s term in 2016.