Several Partido Liberal members have expressed alarm over the country’s drop in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and in the huge decline in foreign investment pledges.
“Nakaka-alarma ang balitang ito dahil bumagsak tayo ng sampung puwesto mula noong 2016. Hindi ito magandang senyales, lalo pa’t kasabay nito ang pagbagsak ng pangakong investment sa atin ng iba’t ibang bansa,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.
Aquino was referring to the country’s drop from 101st place in 2016 to 111th out of 180 countries in 2017 after garnering just a score of 34 points. This was the country’s lowest ranking since 2012 when it placed 105th.
Also, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that investment pledges made by foreign firms slipped by 51.8 percent to P105.6 billion in 2017, from P219 billion in 2016.
“With corruption up, it will drive away potential investors at talo na naman ang mga Pilipino,” Aquino added.
“Habang umaangat tayo sa ranking at gumaganda ang pagtingin ng buong mundo sa atin mula 2010 hanggang 2016, pasama naman ang nangyayari ngayon,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
“Nakakapanghinayang naman ang pinagtrabahuan sa nakalipas na apat na taon. Kasabay ng paglaban ng pamahalaan kontra ilegal na droga, dapat ding pagtuunan ng pansin ang giyera kontra katiwalian,” added the Partido Liberal president.
After the Philippines placed 105th in 2012 in the corruption index, the country’s ranking rose to 94th the following year and 85th in 2014 after garnering a score of 38. The Philippines ranked 95th in 2015 and 101st in 2016.
Moreover, Partido Liberal Vice President for External Affairs Erin Tanada said corruption issues such as the P6.4 billion worth of shabu that slipped out of the Bureau of Customs and the alleged unexplained wealth of the Duterte family contributed to the rise in the country’s corruption perception.
“Mawawala lang ang duda sa pamilya ng Pangulo kung ilalabas nila ang buong katotohanan tungkol dito sa pamamagitan ng pagpirma sa waiver,” said Tanada.