PROMDI Party standard-bearer Senator Manny Pacquiao has accepted the conditions set by House Deputy Speaker and CIBAC Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva for the latter to become the anti-corruption czar under a Pacquiao government.
But first, Pacquiao says he would pray for Divine Intervention to guide Villanueva in making the decision, which is actually the remaining constraint for the two anti-corruption advocates to partner up in ridding government of dishonest and corrupt officials.
“Nirerespeto ko naman lahat ng sinabi niya. Sana bigyan siya ng conviction ng Panginoon na magdeklara ng suporta sa akin (I respect everything that he said. I just hope God will give him the conviction to support me),” Pacquiao told reporters during a press conference at his newly-opened campaign headquarters in Makati City.
Pacquiao has asked Villanueva to agree to help him cleanse the government of misfits by becoming the anti-corruption czar if he wins the presidency.
In an earlier interview, Villanueva revealed that Pacquiao was one of three presidential candidates who visited him after the filing of candidacy last year.
The evangelical pastor said that he recounted to Pacquiao his encounter with a Malacañang emissary who offered him to join the anti-graft program by becoming the face of the whole operation in cleansing government.
Villanueva, who represents an anti-corruption party-list group, said the late Washington Sycip of the SGV firm was among those who convinced him to take the offer.
On Sycip’s prodding, the House official agreed but set several conditions that government must comply with.
Among the “simple conditions” set by Villanueva was the grant of full support and full authority to overhaul three agencies - the Department of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Audit (COA) and the Office of the Ombudsman.
“I should be allowed to form a small composite armed group from the PNP (Philippine National Police), Philippine Army and the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) as a task force,” he said.
Villanueva also demanded that he be allowed to “implement a nationwide work ethics seminars" for all government offices in its three branches.
“Give me two years and we will try to wipe out this endemic corruption in the country,” Villanueva recalled telling the Palace emissary. Villanueva said Malacañang agreed to all the conditions set by him but Malacañang insisted on the grant of general amnesty to all government men involved in corruption before the whole anti-graft program is implemented.
“I understand God’s principle on governance, anchored on justice and mercy. I am willing but after that clean slate, no corruption whatsoever should be committed,” said the House official.