In a scathing indictment of corruption within government agencies, Ombudsman Samuel Martires revealed the pervasive culture of bribery and misconduct that has long plagued the bureaucracy. Speaking in a recent radio interview, Martires lamented that corruption has become so entrenched that government employees who refuse to engage in illicit activities face dire consequences.

A system that rewards corruption

Martires recounted the story of a newly hired examiner who initially refused to accept bribes but soon found himself the subject of complaints from his colleagues.

“If you don’t receive bribes, you’re not ‘in,’” he said, describing the toxic environment in many government offices. “If you enter an agency known for corruption and refuse to take part, two things will happen: You will resign, or you will be killed.”

This, he noted, is the reality faced by many honest employees who attempt to uphold integrity within government institutions. Over time, even the most well-intentioned individuals become influenced and ultimately absorbed into the corrupt system.

A corruption epidemic

While the Philippines has a robust set of anti-corruption laws—including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), laws against bribery, falsification, and plunder — Martires admitted that these measures are often ineffective in preventing corruption before it occurs.

Martires revealed that his office is currently evaluating nearly 1,500 corruption complaints against government agencies, with a total of almost 6,000 cases under investigation. Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan is handling approximately 1,500 cases, ranging from bribery to violations of procurement laws. While many of these cases involve politicians, he clarified that political harassment often plays a role in how corruption allegations are weaponized against rivals.

One of the key issues, he noted, is the misuse of the Commission on Audit's (COA) annual reports. The Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM), which is meant to highlight procedural lapses that agencies can still rectify, is frequently published and then used as ammunition for political attacks. “Since that is published, it is being used to attack their opposition,” he said.

DA under fire

When pressed about which government agencies are the most corrupt, Martires did not hesitate to name the Department of Agriculture (DA) as one of the worst offenders. He also singled out the National Food Authority (NFA), an agency under the DA, for its long-standing history of irregularities.