LP’s Aquino in Senate’s ‘Committee on Silence’
Washington Post journalist hits Noynoy on dismal Senate performance
Senator Benigno Cojuangco Aquino III. 12 long years in public office. 12 long years of the Filipino people’s trust and confidence. And what accomplishment to report now? Track record to boast of? Nada. If any, “little record of introducing legislation aimed at poverty reduction.”
Such marked this week’s Washington Post article written by respected journalist Blaine Harden, Post staff writer who has since covered Japan, the Koreas, Southeast Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
With an extensive report on the country’s election state, Harden made direct reference to the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer’s campaign slogan of “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap (Without corrupt officials, there are no poor people).”
One particular observation that elicited a Washington Post-look into Aquino’s performance and track record in Congress.
“The campaign slogan of the presidential front-runner, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, says: “Without corrupt officials, there are no poor people,” the journalist wrote. “Aquino is beloved for being the only son of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. and of former president Corazon Aquino, who died last year. But after 12 years in public office, he has little record of introducing legislation aimed at poverty reduction.”
“Presidents here have enormous power to shape government policy. Whoever wins could improve tax collection, crack down on corruption and increase spending on schools, health care and rural roads,” Harden stressed.
To note, Aquino’s lackluster and uninspiring public record has been made a primary issue against his bid for the Presidency amidst persistent calls for an efficient administration.
A clear contrast to that of Senator Manny Villar, Nacionalista Party standard bearer, who is hailed as the “embodiment of a competent and able President.” He has since waged a war against poverty stressing that “the battle against poverty can only be led by someone who has overcome it.”
As such, no other candidate comes close to understanding and experiencing poverty just as no other candidate has the competence, experience and track record to end poverty in the country.
To Villar’s credit is his track record of accomplishments and experience in governance. From humble beginnings in the slums of Manila , Senator Villar went from poor boy in Tondo to Asia ’s largest homebuilder. He said it was purely hard work and unparalleled business acumen that led him to becoming a millionaire at age 28 following his venture into the business of developing low-cost housing.
In 1992, he entered politics and was elected Congressman of Las Pinas and Muntinlupa for three terms in a row, consistently posting landslide victories. As congressman, he authored 44 laws among which were New Foreign Investments Act, RA 9178 Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act, RA 9189 Overseas Absentee Voting Act, RA 9208 Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act, RA 9257 An Act Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens, and RA 9262 Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.
In 2001, he was elected Senator where he gained the respect of his peers at the Senate and elected Senate President. As a senator, he has been consistently among the top filers of bills and resolutions in the Upper Chamber. He continues this distinction until the present 14th Congress. As of December 31, 2009, for the 14th Congress, Villar has the second most number of legislation filed in the Senate with 737 bills and resolutions.
In fact, among the presidentiables, Villar has the highest number of bills and resolutions filed.
Harden’s Washington Post story further wrote, “A report this month by the Asian Development Bank said the government should stop granting tax exemptions to the rich, crack down on tax evaders and enforce anti-corruption policies.”
Incidentally, the Aquino-led Liberal Party force in Iloilo is led by Governor Niel Tupas Sr., convicted last week by the Office of the Ombudsman and found guilty of grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The Ombudsman is the Philippine Government’s anti-graft body.
Harden’s story was quickly picked up by the Philippine press after Philippine Star Washington Bureau’s Jose Katigbak reported it here.
