By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 08:05:00 02/23/2009
MANILA, Philippines- Chief Justice Reynato Puno over the past several weeks won the support of "highly respected individuals" in his initiative for a moral force - a campaign to push people to take action against widespread corruption in government, his spokesperson said over the weekend.
"There are many (congressional) investigations (on corruption). There is also again an emerging series of extra-judicial killings. But people are not doing anything," said lawyer Jose Midas Marquez, Puno's chief of staff and spokesperson.
The remarks from the Puno's camp came after weeks of Senate and House hearings on the World Bank report on corruption in the public works projects and on allegations of millions of pesos in drug money being used bribe state prosecutors.
No less than the name of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was dragged into the public works mess.
"So long as they eat three square meals a day, people are unmindful," Marquez added.
Marquez, said the Chief Justice already convinced three eminent persons involved in the media, big business and the Catholic laity to be part of his anti-corruption campaign.
Marquez said an influential Catholic prelate also expressed support for the movement after talking with Puno's camp.
Puno's moral force, Marquez said, has been aiming to make the people aware of graft and corruption and spur them into action. He added that it hoped to address the problem of poverty and to ensure "clean and honest elections" in 2010.
When Puno announced his moral force campaign in a speech several weeks ago, it was met by speculation that the country's top magistrate would use the movement as his springboard for the presidential race before retiring in May 2010.
There were also reports at that time that he would be impeached by administration stalwarts in the House of Representatives.
"We are in the process of forming an advisory council that will set the parameters of the movement. It is not a political party. What we'd like to do is to inform the public what's happening and to do something about it," Marquez told reporters.
Marquez said the group would not endorse any candidate in the coming elections.
"The advisory group will be made up of highly respected individuals without political affiliations representative of the sectors," Marquez added.
Marquez said Puno personally talked to some of those being eyed by his group to become part of the moral force movement. Intermediaries close to the Chief Justice approached other potential core group members.
"It is not anti-administration. It is not pro-opposition. It is a neutral constitutional movement. It will not point an accusing finger. It aims to make people aware and make a stand," Marquez said.
He said three personalities had agreed to be part of the core group.
One is an owner of a media outfit that enjoys a wide audience; one is a business mogul with interests in various industries and one a former government functionary with ties to the Catholic leadership.
There were discussions with a Catholic prelate but Marquez said the priest was no longer invited to keep his position from being compromised.
"But he is quite supportive of the group," Marquez said.
Marquez said their group was still looking for core group members from the labor and youth sectors.
"Hopefully by end of this week, we can convene the advisory council," Marquez said.
He said the Chief Justice hoped that the moral force movement would formally be launched "before the Holy Week."
Told that Puno's initiative might be misinterpreted as his springboard for the 2010 presidential elections, Marquez said: "If it's a decision between being misconstrued and inaction, we'd rather be misconstrued."
Marquez also dismissed suggestions that initiating an anti-corruption campaign might compromise Puno's impartiality as the country's top magistrate.
"The (Supreme Court) is the ultimate defender of the constitution which is based on morals. We don't see any conflict of interest," Marquez said.
Puno in his previous pronouncements said he just wanted to be "a catalyst" of the moral force campaign. He indicated disinterest in leading the movement.
"A lot of civilizations have failed and fallen because they failed to arrest moral decadence just like the Roman Empire," Marquez said.
Marquez said many businessmen did not seem to be interested in leading the fight against corruption.
"(But) later, graft will eat up their profits. We have to put a stop to corruption," Marquez said.
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