PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III yesterday reiterated his resolve to run after those who seek to perpetuate the culture of impunity during the New Year vin d' honneur yesterday at Malacañang.

Aquino said his government will be unrelenting in its accountability efforts even as he proposed a toast for stability and prosperity for the country.

Members of the diplomatic community, captains of industry and ranking government officials graced the traditional New Year affair in Malacañang.

The President said he is confident that so long as the government stands together and remains consistent in giving service to the public, "our countrymen will be behind us every step of the way."

Later, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, dean of the diplomatic corps, cited the resiliency of Filipinos during times of calamities.

He expressed admiration for how Filipinos remain steadfast and unyielding in times of calamities, citing survivors of  typhoon “Sendong” who did not lose hope and courage despite the natural disaster.

The ambassadors backed Aquino's efforts at forging peace agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the communist National Democratic Front. 

200 mayors

Some 200 local chief executives face suspension for their failure to comply with the government’s full disclosure program.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said that these LGU heads will be sent a show cause order and asked to explain why they continue to ignore the program.

Under the General Appropriation’s Act and DILG circular, every LGU is required to disclose all transactions of their locality for transparency purposes.

The program also tends to inform the public on the real standing of their community and where their taxes go.

When asked of the sanctions, Robredo said, “Criminal ho yun, GAA ho yun, hindi naman yan circular lang ng DILG, nakalagay yan sa batas at GAA 2012 ang full disclosure ay compulsory.”

The DILG head said he will post the names of the non-compliant mayors on the DILG website.

All concerned regional directors, according to Robredo, were already directed to send show cause orders to the erring LGUs.

During the last quarter of year 2011, some 500 LGUs were still non-compliant with the full disclosure program.

After being informed of the consequences for non-compliance, at least 300 of them immediately settled their problem with the DILG.

“Noong una ay hindi natin pinadalhan ng show-cause order, pero dahil patuloy silang (the 200 LGUs) hindi nagko-comply, wala na tayong magawa kundi i-show cause sila,” Robredo said in a press conference.                         

With Joel dela Torre