What pledge?

CHEERS TO the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for reminding its readers that President Benigno S. Aquino III pledged to waive his rights to bank secrecy during the 2010 elections.

The article “‘Weather-weather lang,’ or ‘waiver-waiver lang yan?’” was posted in June 7 on PCIJ‘s blog. Following former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s waiver allowing the disclosure of his bank deposits, the article did reminded its readers about Aquino’s pledge to waive his rights to bank secrecy as a grand gesture of transparency.

“Then Senator and Presidential Candidate Benigno S. Aquino III proudly announced on February 24, 2010 (incidentally the 24th anniversary of the People Power Revolt that gave us press freedom, democracy, and rumor has it, transparency and accountability) that he was waiving his rights under the bank secrecy law to let the public know his assets.”

The article cited the Aquino press release from the Senate website’s archives dated February 24, 2010, entitled “Aquino will waive right to bank secrecy” in which Aquino was quoted as saying that “he will waive his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law to set an example for others in his administration if elected president”.