My patience has limits – Aquino
President warns remaining grafters not to test him
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd on Friday warned remaining corrupt government officials in the government not to test his patience because it has its ”limits.”
He gave this warning in his speech during the 65th anniversary of the Development Bank of the Philippines in Makati City (Metro Manila).
“To the dregs of the old system who might still be holding on to their ways, despite my expressed, direct order to tread the straight path: Do not test me. I can be a patient man, but my patience has its limits, especially [with] those who stand as obstacles to reform,” President Aquino said.
The Aquino administration has filed various criminal cases against allegedly corrupt officials under the previous administration, including former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo of Pampanga province, who is under hospital arrest on electoral-sabotage charges.
Meanwhile, the Development Bank of the Philippines, led by its president and Chief Executive Officer Francisco del Rosario, turned over to the President a symbolic check representing P4 billion in dividends.
Mr. Aquino cited a graft allegation right at the development bank.
He said that patronage led to former Trade Minister Robert Ongpin receiving a loan from the development bank during the previous administration.
“Leaders who were supposed to be exemplars of integrity fell prey to a system where connections were capital, and patronage was king,” the President added.
“Deals of this type had become the dirty secrets of a privileged class of bank patrons who bullied their way over the hundreds of decent and competent DBP employees who wanted to do the right thing. It was a decade in which the real bosses of the DBP— the Filipino people— were shoved out of the way in favor of a privileged few,” he said.
“Today, on the beginning of its 65th year, the DBP has begun to close the door on that lost decade. It has begun to reclaim its honor by holding accountable those who abused the institution. More important, after 19 months, the straight and narrow path has led the DBP back to its true purpose: financial support in line with the agenda of development, poverty reduction and inclusive growth,” Mr. Aquino added.
The President recalled a sad incident involving a lawyer of the Development Bank of the Philippines who committed suicide last year.