Magalong: No politics in crusade vs. corruption
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said his call to curb corruption in the government and to champion good governance which is now being turned into a movement was not a product of political agenda but of sheer concern for the future of the next generation.
“There is no political agenda. The motivation here is the legacy that we can pass onto the next generation. It’s about time to champion our campaign against corruption and really promote and advocate good governance,” he said.
He said that being an elected official gives him the opportunity to speak out and drumbeat the campaign against corruption which he said is deeply ingrained in the Filipino society and that it has to be done now.
“As local officials, we have the opportunity to make a big difference. As JFK said, ‘If not us, then who; If not now, then when?’ If we do not act now, nothing will happen. Nakapwesto kami ngayon so we have to seize the moment, kahit maliit lang, basta maumpisahan lang natin. It’s all a matter of creating that spark and many will support but we have to do it together,” the mayor said.
He said that after speaking up and giving the facts about the problem, he had to follow it through with the creation of a movement called “Good Governance: Get Involved,” a spin-off from his “Good Governance Beyond Politics” election campaign slogan.
“We have to transform good governance into a movement to encourage and raise awareness. It’s about time that people demand good governance from their political leaders. That is the direction now,” Magalong said.
He said support had begun trickling in after he gave the speech receiving surprise messages from former ranking officials and even from incumbent lawmakers encouraging him to pursue the movement.
“I’m not the only champion (of this cause). There are others with a strong sense of idealism out there and there are those who are just silent. There may be those who discourage us from this lonely cause but we will still go on,” the mayor said, adding that they welcome contributions from the various sectors.
“We will just have to work hard, contribute and if you can come up with bright ideas on how to address corruption and the country’s huge debt then that will be welcome,” he said. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
