Pacquiao to compel gov’t officials to sign bank secrecy waiver if he is elected president

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he would compel all government officials, as well as their immediate family members, to sign a bank secrecy waiver to ensure transparency and accountability if he wins the presidency in Eleksyon 2022.

In a statement, the lawmaker also said he would also allow the release and publication of Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of government officials, except for personal data and details that may be considered a breach of privacy.

“Hindi lang ako pipirma ng waiver sa bank secrecy. Maging mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno, they will be asked to sign the waiver before they can be appointed. Pati SALN hindi ito itatago sa publiko. As public servants, we should be transparent and accountable,” Pacquiao said.

(I won't be the only one who will sign the waiver on bank secrecy. Even my colleagues in the government, they will be asked to sign the waiver before they can be appointed. Even their SALNs, It won’t be hidden to the public. As public servants, we should be transparent and accountable.)

The presidential aspirant also vowed an “all-out war” against corruption, saying even members of his government would not exempted from his anti-corruption drive.

He added that his Cabinet members would need to undergo a regular performance audit.

“We will have an all-out war against corruption. Titiyakin natin na magsasama-sama ang mga kawatan sa kulungan. Walang makakaligtas na kawatan,” Pacquiao said.

(We will have an all-out war against corruption. We will make sure that all the corrupt officials will rot in jail. No one will be exempted.)

Furthermore, the lawmaker said once he is elected into office, he will issue an executive order mandating the creation of a “mega prison” in anticipation of the “sheer number of people who would be arrested for corruption.”

This facility would have a hospital inside to accommodate those officials who were able to secure court approval for hospital arrest.

A “small hut” would also be established inside the said facility for those who are ordered to be placed under house arrest.

“We have seen how they were able to manipulate the justice system so that they can still live comfortably and easily. May mga props pang mga wheelchair at yung iba may sakit naman daw pero noong nakalaya na sila biglang naging healthy sila, nakakatakbo pa,” he said.

(Some are even using props such as wheelchair. Some of them claim that they are sick but once they are freed, you can tell that they are healthy and you can even see them running.)

“Mawawala na lahat yan sa ating [mega prison] dahil kumpleto na ito. Titiyakin natin na mararamdaman nila ang hirap na araw-araw na dinadanas ng mga mahihirap na Pilipino,” he added.

(Those excuses won’t be valid anymore because the (mega prison) will have complete facilities. We will make sure that they will suffer inside.)

Moreover, Pacquiao said the proposed detention facility would have signal jammers and surveillance cameras which can be monitored from Malacañang Palace to ensure that prison officials won’t give special treatment to anyone. — BM, GMA News