Pacquiao vows to waive bank secrecy right of govt officials

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — All government officials, including their immediate family members, will have to waive their right under the bank secrecy law if Senator Manny Pacquiao gets elected as president.

In his statement Wednesday, Pacquiao said he will also push for the publication of their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), "except the details that may be deemed as breach of their privacy and personal data."

"Hindi lang ako [ang] pipirma ng waiver sa bank secrecy. Maging mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno [I will not be the only one to sign a bank secrecy waiver. Even my colleagues in government], they will be asked to sign the waiver before they can be appointed," he said.

"Pati SALN, hindi ito itatago sa publiko [SALNs will also be published]. As public servants, we should be transparent and accountable," Pacquiao added.

Republic Act 1405, or the Bank Secrecy Law, protects all deposits of "whatever nature" in banks in the country. It prohibits any person, subject to exceptions, from disclosing any information relative to one's deposits.

Further, to ensure zero corruption in his administration, the presidential aspirant said his Cabinet members will go through regular performance audits.

He will likewise mandate the creation of a "Mega Prison" (MP), which shall serve as the main detention facility for corrupt officials.

The statement said it would have its own hospital for those who would secure court approval for hospital arrest, as well as a "small hut" for prisoners who would be placed under house arrest.

It added that the facility will be equipped with mobile phone jammers and surveillance cameras, while prison officers will closely be monitored to ensure they are "not giving anyone special treatment."

"We have seen how they (government officials) were able to manipulate the justice system, so that they can still live comfortably and easily," Pacquiao said without mentioning any names. "May props pang mga wheelchair. 'Yung iba, may sakit daw, pero noong nakalaya na sila, biglang naging healthy sila. Mawawala na lahat 'yan sa ating MP dahil kumpleto na ito."

[Translation: Some even use wheelchairs as props. Others say they are sick, but once they get out of jail, they suddenly become healthy. Those will no longer work once we establish MP as its facilities are already complete.]

"We will have an all-out war against corruption. Titiyakin natin na magsasama-sama ang mga kawatan sa kulungan. Walang makakaligtas [We will see to it that all erring officials would rot together in jail. No one will be spared]," he noted.