• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Amid allegations of corruption hounding his administration, the Visayan Bloc, composed of solons in the four Visayas regions, expressed its full support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., noting that the political attacks against him intensified after his unprecedented and uncompromising campaign against corruption, not even sparing allies and friends.
A statement issued by the Visayan Bloc said that the campaign against corruption opened inquiries, exposed systematic anomalies worth billions of pesos, and had shaken long-entrenched networks of influence and abuse.
When a President confronts corruption at this scale, resistance is inevitable. And so it is the duty of those who profess to serve the people: to stand firm, to stay focused, and to finish the work started by the President, the Visayan bloc said.
“Good governance is not a partisan project; it is a moral obligation. We stand with the President because we stand with every Filipino who deserves honesty, transparency, and accountability in public service,” it added.
The Visayan bloc is composed of more than 50 solons, initially signed by 45 congressmen and women, said Bacolod Lone Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, a convenor of the bloc.
According to Benitez, the reason why they support the administration of President Marcos is because “he is the only President in the history of the Philippines that is investigating its own administration.”
For him to do that, that means his sincerity of solving, eliminating, eradicating corruption, which I feel should be supported, the Bacolod solon stressed.
The Visayan bloc urged colleagues in government, and Filipinos, to reject distractions and political theatrics.
“The fight against corruption is bigger than any individual, administration, or party – and it is a fight we must see through, together,” it added.
The Visayan Bloc also said it remains committed “to working with the President to ensure that this moment becomes a turning point in our country’s journey toward clean, accountable, and principled governance.”
The League of Provinces of the Philippines, meanwhile, stressed that instead of further divisiveness, “now is the time for government officials to close ranks to focus on the various important issues that need to be urgently addressed.”
It said the country is still reeling from devastation brought about by two major earthquakes that rocked several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao, and the back-to-back typhoons Tino and Uwan, which necessitates government and private intervention and initiatives, in order for the people and the country to recover.
“The people’s rights to assembly and expression are guaranteed under the Constitution. A line must be drawn, however, against those who wish to use such constitutional rights for their vested interests,” stressed the LPP statement in GA Resolution 13-03-25-28, expressing full support for Marcos Jr. and reaffirming its commitment to uphold the Constitution, democracy, and good governance.*
