Palace on corruption: Watch out for what happens next

Malacañang has asked the public to wait for developments in President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against corruption.

Presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr. made the remark after the Philippines dropped from 113th in 2019 to 115th in 2020 in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI)

“Alam ng Presidente may problema pa at kaya nga sinabi niya na igugugol niya iyong isa at kalahating taon na panahon na natitira sa kaniyang termino para lutasin itong problema ng korapsiyon," Roque said.

"Tingnan po natin ang mga susunod na mga pangyayari," he added.

Roque reiterated earlier pronouncements that Duterte would devote his remaining months in office to fighting corruption.

He said the President has employed a shame campaign against corrupt government officials and personnel and tapped agencies to reduce red tape as well as to investigate those suspected of wrongdoing.

“Alam po ninyo ang Presidente, talagang problemado din diyan, kasi nga parang walang katapusan itong problema ng korapsiyon,” Roque said.

The country placed 99th in 2018.

According to the watchdog, efforts to control corruption in the Philippines appeared “mostly stagnant since 2012.”

It also claimed that the government's response to COVID-19 “has been characterized by abusive enforcement, and major violations of human rights and media freedom.”

The Philippines once again scored 34 points on a scale where 0 is “highly corrupt” and 100 is “very clean.”

The country’s score is lower than the international average of 43 points and the regional average of 45 points. -NB, GMA News