Norberto B. Gonzales- Negros Chapter

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We cannot underestimate the nation's courage to act on the dictate of a common sentiment.

FORMER DEFENSE CHIEF NORBERTO GONZALES CALLS FOR TRANSITION GOV'T

By Kristina Maralit
Manila Times | December 10, 2025

The only way to eliminate the systemic massive corruption in the country is to have a transition government which will also rebuild the public’s eroded trust, former Defense chief Norberto Gonzales said Tuesday.

In an interview with The Manila Times Newsroom, Gonzales said Filipinos need justice now for being victims of the misuse of public funds intended for flood control projects.

A national reset would eliminate corruption and also address persistent issues such as poverty, defense and security, food insecurity, and widespread disillusionment with the government.

“This is already the belief of our people. It will be hard to erase and I think they’re correct that corruption is coming from the very top of our political leadership,” Gonzales, who was Defense chief and national security adviser during the Arroyo administration., said.

“What’s even harder, you have these people who say they will have those involved arrested when they, too, should be arrested... I hope our top officials would understand that the people now, with the kind of understanding that they have, cannot be fooled anymore,” he added.

Gonzales lamented that with the current electoral process, voters often elect into office “lesser evil” candidates or those from political dynasties thus making it doubly difficult to hold anyone accountable for misdeeds while in office.

He suggested for elected officials to take the cue from their counterparts in other countries and step down to give others intending to serve the nation and the people to govern.

“I do not believe that no one else can take over. But we must pray, pray hard that the replacements are good,” Gonzales said.

He likewise said there is “chaos” now because many are looking to run in the 2028 elections and have reservations in supporting calls to put in place a transition government because it would mean an end to their own political aspirations.

“Our country is very divided. But hopefully, we could give those who truly understand how to serve an opportunity,” he said, adding that between now and 2028 would be the perfect time for a transition.

“We have time (for a transition Constitution). We can do that. Before we talk of the next elections we should at least have a good framework for the Constitution. Our people are not stupid. Our people will begin to discern to make the right decision when the right time comes. Our politicians must be sensitive to that,” he added.

OUR MISSION IS TO REDEEM OUR FUTURE

We need to define our dream nation, desire it and assert that it can be built. It will not be difficult to have the nation we deserve. There is no shortage of good doctrine and noble intentions in our country. Our nation is bursting with the vigor and enthusiasm of millions upon millions of our youth. Our lands, mountains and seas are overflowing with natural bounties. We can be prospering in leaps and bounds.

Yet why is it that we continue to be classified as a third world country? We remain unable to take care of our poor and even ourselves. We cannot guarantee nor see clearly a good and safe future for our children. A great malaise is definitely inflicted in us. What we suffer is politics that is sick to the core. Our immediate job is to cure it. Change it.

We cannot continue with a political system that paralyzes the good in us. We cannot continue to discourage competence and integrity in public service. It is definitely not true that corruption cannot be stopped. Dirty politics will continue to prosper only if we allow it to be so.

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ANG MISYON NATIN AY TUBUSIN ANG ATING KINABUKASAN

Kailangan nating tukuyin ang bansang ating pinapangarap — hangarin ito, at paniwalaang kaya nating itaguyod. Hindi mahirap abutin ang bansang nararapat sa atin. Hindi tayo kulang sa mabubuting turo at marangal na hangarin. Ang ating bayan ay sagana sa likas na yaman at pinagbubuklod ng lakas at sigla ng milyun-milyong kabataan. Kayang-kaya nating umunlad nang higit pa sa ating inaakala.

Ngunit bakit hanggang ngayon, itinuturing pa rin tayong "third world country" o bansang mahirap? Bakit hindi pa rin natin kayang pangalagaan ang ating mga mahihirap at ang ating sariling kinabukasan? May malalim na karamdaman ang ating lipunan — isang pulitikang bulok sa kaibuturan. Ito ang dapat nating pagalingin. Ito ang dapat nating baguhin.

Hindi tayo maaaring magpatuloy sa sistemang pumipigil sa kabutihan at katapatan. Hindi totoo na hindi mapipigil ang korapsyon. Ang maruming politika ay magpapatuloy lamang kung tayo mismo ang magpapahintulot dito.

AFP DAPAT AKSYUNAN NA ANG KORAPSYON SA PILIPINAS--DATING DND CHIEF

By Almar Pocson Forsuelo
DZAR Manila 1026

Nito lang nakaraan binigyang diin ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. na walang puwang sa AFP ang korapsyon.

Aniya, magmula nang siya ay manungkulan, ipinatupad niya ang dalawang di-matatawarang prinsipyo sa hanay ng Hukbong Sandatahan ng Pilipinas. Ito ay ang tapat na paglilingkod at ang ikalawa, kailanman ay hindi sila tatanggap ng regalo, o pabor, “Since I took command, I have enforced two non-negotiable principles in the force. The first is servant leadership. The second is that we will never take a cut, token, or favor. Call it a kickback, a porsiyento, or by whatever name it wears corruption has no place in our ranks. No soldier, officer, or unit under my watch will collect a single peso from any contractor, supplier, or project proponent.”

Ngunit para sa dating kalihim ng Department of National Defense (DND) na si Norberto Gonzales hindi aniya ito sapat, “May statement akong nabasa na galing kay General Brawner ng Armed Forces talagang binabalaan niya yong wina-warningan niya ang buong armed forces tungkol sa kurapsyon dapat talagang maging super clean ang ating Armed Forces with it comes to the issue of corruption ang masasabi natin diyan hindi sapat.”

Sa eksklusibong panayam ng SMNI News kay Gonzales ipinaliwanag nito kung bakit niya nabanggit ang naturang pahayag, aniya kitang-kita na winawaldas ng mga politiko ang pera ng taong bayan at lalong nalulugmok sa kahirapan ang Pilipinas kaya bilang tagapagtanggol ng estado dapat na aniyang kumilos ang AFP, “Kitang-kita naman nating nilulustay na ang yaman ng bayan hindi na nga inintindi ang kinabukasan natin kitang kita na yan ang Armed Forces isa yan sa mga institusyon na dapat kumilos para ayusin yan.”

Nag-ugat ang nasabing pahayag ng dating kalihim matapos na malaman ng publiko na bilyung-bilyong piso ang napupunta sa mga kurap na indibidwal gamit ang flood control projects.

Kaya hinikahyat nito ang AFP na gumawa ng paraan na matigil ang korapsyon dahil unti-unti aniya nitong sinisira ang lipunan, “Kaya tuloy ako minsan nabibigla narin akong magsabi na aba ang armed forces ay dapat makialam na kasi kapag ang sakit at ang paninira ng lipunan ay malubha na kailangan yong mga importante instusyon na may importanteng gawin ay dapat kumilos na.”

Sa huli, malaki parin ang tiwala ni Gonzales sa AFP base narin sa kanyang naging karanasan at sa kasaysaysan ng Pilipinas na ang Hukbong Sandatahan na ang kumilos para ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino, “Napatunayan sa kasaysayan ng pilipinas na may dumarating na yugto ng ating kasaysaysan na yong utang naloob binabalewala parasa kapakanan ng bayan, kunyari nung edsa people power 1986 kung sasabihin natin na nababayaran ang armed forces eh busog na busog ang armed forces sa panahon ni Marcos Sr pero nag People Power parin at lumabas sa kalsada ang Armed Forces of the Philippines, yong panahon ni Erap merong problema sa pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno lumabas ulit ang Armed Forces.”

Former Defense Secretary and National Security Adviser Norberto B. Gonzales, in an interview with Boy Abunda, said:

“People are asking whether corruption is simply in our system, or whether it has already become the system itself.

I believe corruption has indeed become the system in the Philippines. That is why our response to it must also be systemic.

The root of corruption is our very own Congress. There is no hope of reforming this unless we change the very structure of politics and the kind of politicians we have.

We have to change the system itself—otherwise, we will never overcome it."

Currently with Norberto B. Gonzales in the City of Smiles—Bacolod! 🎭💙

Tahimik pero matatag — ipinakita niya ang kanyang paninindigan para sa makabago at makabayang pamumuno.

#29 NORBERTO GONZALES

DALIN NATIN SYA SA SENADO.

#29 NORBERTO GONZALES

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