MANILA, Philippines

- The business community yesterday expressed its full support for President Aquino and his Cabinet officials, saying they were making sacrifices to serve the people.

Major business groups, in a joint statement, slammed reports criticizing the Cabinet officials and questioning their ability to serve the government.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, the Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Philippine Exporters Confederation said they were impressed by the President’s choice of Cabinet officials.

“He (Mr. Aquino) has chosen a Cabinet of people whom he trusts and whom he believes can do the honest job he, and we, require,” they said.

“So we in the business community are disturbed to hear attacks on several of his chosen team members, even before they can prove themselves.”

They said many members of the business community have unsullied reputations for honesty, integrity and competence but not many of them are willing to serve in government.

“We therefore commend those who have accepted the call for government service. And we ask that they be given the chance to do their job without being attacked, unless there is concrete proof of previous malfeasance that would put into question their integrity and honesty,” they said.

The business groups lamented that some from the media criticize the Cabinet officials even before getting the facts right.

They expressed support for the Cabinet officials that, they said, have sacrificed their income, family and privacy in order to serve the people under the Aquino administration.

The businessmen also appealed on the people to trust the President’s judgment.

They said Mr. Aquino came “with a promise of fresh change, of returning honesty into government.”

“And 85 percent of the population has given their support for his leadership,” they said.

The business groups reminded the people that they have called for “revolutionary change from the political intrigues” of the past administration.

With Mr. Aquino coming in, the business groups called on people to support his administration and his Cabinet.

“Let us give this Cabinet the chance to prove their worth,” the businessmen appealed.