A medal for corruption

“Extensive bribery within the confines of government has made foreign companies vulnerable to extortion and manipulation by public officials.

A recent revelation by an official of the Ombudsman that the country is losing around P700 billion or around 20 percent of the country’s total budget is astonishing.

No matter how you look at it, it boggles the mind how we could have come to this.

The figure is equivalent to some P1.4 million housing for the poor, medical assistance for around seven million Filipinos or a rice buffer stock that can last for more than a year, according to the Ombudsman official.

He said that with this amount, no Filipino would ever get hungry.

Corruption has long been the bane of previous administrations, that of President Duterte, included.

The President, who has time and again expressed his aversion to those who dip their fingers into government coffers, has grown seemingly exasperated over the practice despite having fired several officials in his first three years in office.

That the Philippines is now ranked as the sixth most corrupt among Asia Pacific countries is definitely a slap on the face of Filipinos. Although it pales in comparison to other top crimes, such as illegal drugs and other heinous crimes, corruption is one that affects us all.

It threatens sustainable economic development, ethical values and justice. It destabilizes our society and endangers the rule of law. Delays in infrastructure development, poor building quality and layers of additional costs are also consequences of corruption.

Countries with emerging economies such as the Philippines suffer from a slowdown in overall development due to the menace. The entire society is affected as a result of the inefficient allocation of resources, the presence of a shadow economy, and low-quality education and health care.

Among the most common causes of corruption are the political and economic environment, professional ethics and morality and, of course, habits, customs, tradition and demography.

There is no argument that we have some of the best minds in government, particularly Congress, but somehow, the system engulfs many of them as corruption rears its ugly head. How many times have we seen our solons from both chambers bickering over pork and budget insertions?

The problem is not limited to our lawmakers. Some of our institutions have likewise been affected. Extensive bribery within the confines of government has made foreign companies vulnerable to extortion and manipulation by public officials. How many of our policemen who are supposed to serve and protect have actually been implicated in anomalous transactions such as extortion and bribery? Or of justices accused of turning a blind eye in exchange for under-the-table deals? Favoritism and undue influence are widespread in the courts, leading to time consuming and unfair dispute resolution.

We could go on and on but the problem seemingly has become endemic, while the legislative framework for fighting corruption is scattered and is not effectively enforced by the weak and non-cooperative law enforcement agencies.

Just recently, organizers of the 30th Southeast Asian Games came under fire for alleged corruption in the run-up to the event. There have been reports of some agencies incurring frivolous expenses, as well as questions on the propriety of spending P55 million for a cauldron.

We gladly welcome news that a seven-member panel from the Office of the Ombudsman has begun the probe on the alleged corruption in the hosting of the games.

Now that the biennial event is over, it is high time that such an investigation be started to make those liable pay for their folly. It should cover all agencies involved including the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, headed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and every official that has got to do with the hosting.

Although President Duterte has cleared him of any wrongdoing ahead of any formal investigation, Cayetano has time and again said that he is ready to face any probe. He welcomes it as an opportunity to put to rest all the questions surrounding the country’s fourth staging of the Games.

Let’s just hope the probe won’t put a damper on the successful staging of the biggest Southeast Asian Games ever.