By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP) has renewed its commitment to clean governance through “Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap: A Fellowship on Integrity, Accountability, and the Continuing Fight for Good Governance,” on Friday (Oct. 24) at Avire Tower here.
The fellowship, organized by the LP and ML Partylist, also commemorates the late President Benigno S. “Noynoy” Aquino III’s reform legacy while – from flood control scams and agricultural confronting today’s entrenched corruption – smuggling to inefficiency and graft in education and infrastructure.
The event also aims to open the Party’s doors to a new generation of citizens ready to take part in the fight for a government that truly serves the people.
Atty. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada, LP president, in his opening remarks, expressed his gratitude to all the participants in the event.
He cited that the Liberal Party, will celebrate its 80th anniversary in January next year.
Tanada said that 14 years ago, then President Noynoy Aquino led the “Kung Walang Korap Walang Mahirap” fellowship.
Tanada said that “our task is clear: to restore trust and transparency.”
“Kung Walang Korap Walang Mahirap remains our compass. It directs us to integrity, honesty and transparency,” Tanada said.
In her message, ML Partylist Rep. Leila De Lima said that corruption has grown more in high gear.
De Lima said “this fight is both institutional and moral.”
She added “students, workers and teachers are once again teeming the streets to demand justice.”
“We Filipinos resist corruption as the light resist the darkness,” De Lima said.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, LP Chairman, led the oath-taking of the new members of the Liberal Party.
Sen. Pangilinan, in his keynote message, said that the LP is consistent with its policy of honesty and transparency.
He lambasted the largest massive, unconscionable and unacceptable corruption in the country’s history in trillions of pesos.
Pangilinan recently told a former Justice of the Supreme Court that the people are already angry that nobody has yet to be jailed for corruption.
He cited that during the time of PNoy there was no “wangwang” because he new that public officials should be public servants.
Pangilinan said that there should be the courage and consistency, faith and belief to make the heart, honesty, and transparency viral.
“Kung Walang Korap Walang Mahirap,” he said.
As part of the LP’s long-standing tradition of fighting corruption and upholding integrity in public service, Pangilinan and De Lima led the public release of their respective Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).
The public release of Pangilinan’s and De Lima’s SALNs once routine but now rare in
Philippine politics-serves as a challenge to all public officials, regardless of party, to practice full disclosure and regain the people’s trust.
The LP, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary in January 2026, said that the SALN release is a bold reaffirmation that accountability begins with example.
Also present were Rep. Boy Umali, former Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, Rep. Allan Reyes, LP Secretary General former Rep. Christopher” Kit” Belmonte, and erstwhile PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre III, Florencio Butch Abad, among others.
Pangilinan, De Lima, and Tañada led the symbolic unity ceremony with a “Puno ng Pag-asa, Puno ng Pag-asa (Tree of Hope, Full of Hope)”.
In his speech, Francis Aquino Dee, expressed his gratitude that the program is a reminder of the legacy of his uncle the late former President Noynoy Aquino.
Dee cited that the Nonoy Aquino Center has recently been opened for the public to see the legacy left behind by the late president.
“Ang kwento ng korapsyon ay may katapusan din,” Dee said.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ang laban. Forever po ang laban,” he added.
Belmonte congratulated everyone for the successful conduct of the LP event, noting that, the LP was established in 1974 and will mark its 80th Anniversary in January next year.
He lambasted the massive corruption that is now happening in the country, particularly the anomalous flood control projects. ###
