If he wins the presidency, one of Senator Manny Pacquiao’s first acts at Malacañang is to offer evangelist and House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva the job of an anti-corruption czar.
Pacquiao said he and Villanueva had discussed the worsening state of graft and corruption in government and exchanged notes on plans to fight it.
But he admitted that he has not yet offered the religious leader the job of ridding government of grafters should he become president.
Villanueva is among the founders of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC), a consistent winner in the party list race which he currently represents in the Lower House.
“Kung may blessing ng Panginoon para maupo diyan bilang pangulo ng PIlipinas ay io-offer ko sa kanya (Villanueva) at nawa’y tanggapin niya ang pagiging anti-corruption czar. (If by the blessing of God I become the president of the Philippines, I will offer it to him and I hope he will accept the role of anti-corruption czar),” stated Pacquiao.
“I will give him full authority to arrest the corrupt (in government),” the Mindanaoan senator stated.
Pacquiao is running as president under a strong anti-corruption and anti-poverty advocacy. He aired the belief that the country’s huge population of poor Filipinos can overcome poverty if government is cleansed of corrupt and dishonest personnel and officials.
The country’s pride in professional boxing is convinced that Villanueva, being a religious leader, can become the most effective weapon of a Pacquiao administration against undesirables in government.
“Naniniwala ako na hindi siya makikipag-compromise kasi ang isa sa mga instruction ko sa Cabinet kapag naging presidente ako ay we will not compromise. ( I believe he will not agree to compromise because one of my instructions to the Cabinet when I become president is that we will not compromise),” he said.
According to Pacquiao compromising the strict implementation of laws in the country is a reality in the country heavily influenced by politics.
The PROMDI and PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing) presidential aspirant also vowed to overhaul the judicial system that has already become infected with corruption.
Villanueva has yet to react on Pacquiao’s statement.