Why we fail to eradicate corruption
By William M. Esposo, As I Wrecked This Chair, The Philippine Star
Not to suggest that we don’t convict corrupt public officials but the truth is – catching one will only stop one thief but it will not end corruption. Catching a hundred crooked public officials will stop those 100 thieves but that will not end corruption.
Fighting corruption is no different from stopping eyesight deterioration resulting from uncontrolled high blood sugar – the disease of diabetes. Treating the deteriorating eyesight is useless if the blood sugar is not controlled. A good eye doctor may be able to stop or slow down the eyesight deterioration but the diabetes can easily manifest in other even more deadly complications like hypertension and chronic kidneys.
In our contemporary history, Cory Aquino was just about the most diligent president in trying to maintain an honest government. This is easily seen in the way she chose her people, especially those who worked directly under her. Ping de Jesus, Elfren Cruz, Chito Sobrepena, Catalino Macaraig, Adolf Azcuna — to name a few — held some of the most coveted posts in the Office of the President and left public office with their reputations intact.
It was Cory who gave us the cleanest Comelec (Commission on Elections) Commissioners and it was no surprise that elections that were held under the Aquino administration were some of the cleanest we’ve had. She also preferred cabinet appointees drawn from successful private sector managers. By the time she stepped down, there was no department under a traditional politician.
And yet, despite her sincere efforts, Cory was not able to eradicate corruption because by then, after two decades of Marcos kleptocracy, corruption has developed into a culture.
Just like diabetes, addressing the manifestations of the corruption disease does not solve the problem. Merely catching the crooked public official does not solve the problem of corruption. Eradicating the culture of corruption is the only effective solution to the problem.
Eradicating corruption is all about reforming values. No matter how many crooks we catch, the corruption will not stop because the culture that spawns it persists.
Corruption is like dancing the tango — it takes at least two. If there is the businessman who is ever ready to offer a bribe, the culture of corruption will produce the bureaucrat who will accept the bribe and render the illegal service.
In the UK, the Brits have one of the highest standards of intolerance for corruption. The average Brit simply takes the view that there should be no corruption at all. Thus, we see British public officials who quickly resign at the slightest hint of scandal. The higher the public office occupied, the greater the British sensitivity is to irregularity.
Compare that with what is now pervasive in Philippine society; where even basically honest folks agree to pay small bribes to vehicle licensing fixers so as not to take too much time securing the license the proper way. That is the culture of corruption. If you are willing to compromise on venial sins, you may not realize it but those are the very seeds for being prone to committing mortal sins.
In the recent coverage of the Papal Trip to the Holy Land, Pope Benedict XVI was quoted as saying that there is a lot of emphasis in the world today on the problem of temporal poverty but hardly any discussion on the greater, deeper problem of moral poverty. The Pontiff is right. If you get down to the roots of the problem of the world’s temporal poverty, you will find that it is somehow caused by moral poverty.
The Philippine social situation is a good case in point where moral poverty causes temporal poverty. The insatiable greed (moral poverty) of a few oligarchs caused the miserable, hand-to-mouth, sub-human existence (temporal poverty) of many.
Among nations, it is also the same syndrome. The exploitation and predation (moral poverty) by the first world countries have caused the economic stagnation (temporal poverty) of many third world countries.
One of the most honest cabinet secretaries we ever had, the late Jaime N. Ferrer, mentioned three things that are needed if corruption is to be eradicated in a government agency. These are:
1. The head must be a truly honest man. Bad seeds cannot be expected to bear good fruits.
2. The head must know how corruption happens. This includes knowing how corruption is bred — the culture — and how the illegal act is being committed.
3. The head must have the courage to fight corruption. The head has to expect those who benefit from corruption to resort to character assassination or outright assassination. The head could be vilified or killed.
In case you haven’t noticed, some of the biggest assassins are 2010 presidential wannabes. Let’s not even discuss cold blooded murder – character assassination is the work of a very corrupt person.
Read the full article here
"I am determined to continue the fight started by my father and my mother to see
that democracy takes root and is strengthened in our country. This cannot happen
in a government that serves the interest of the powerful few. We must strengthen
the institutions of government so that they truly serve the interests of our people."
Insay
12 Oct, 2009
Amen, amen, amen. That is why I have emphasized to my friends and kin that it is not only important to explain to people why we are supporting the Noy-Mar tandem. It is equally important to warn people the dangers of accepting “gifts” given by any of the candidates and their representatives, from the baranggay level to the highest office in the land. The 500 pesos they get during election time they will spend in what, one or two days? Like a fiesta, it will only last that long. But the interest for that measly sum will be in millions, nay billions that they and their children’s children’s children will have to pay back for years and years to come. Because there will be pay back, no doubt about that. They might not understand it, but it is one of the major reasons why almost half of the country’s population is still cursed to a hand-to-mouth existence. These Buwayas will have to get back the money they have “given away,” in multiples of millions. And this onerous relationship has the tacit approval of anyone accepting these gifts. As The Chair Wrecker puts it, “it takes two to tango,” more so in this dance called Corruption.
MM
12 Oct, 2009
For those who were not old enough at the time, Cardinal Sin advised the people, accept the money because that’s people’s money, but still vote for the candidate you want.
It worked! Pres. Cory became our best president ever!
Manresa
12 Oct, 2009
@MM
In a more recent history, Among Ed gave the same advice to the poor voters in 2004 elections. The poor folks obliged and Among Ed won, but bloods were shed after the election as someone allegedly took vengeance against some of those who heed the advice of Among Ed.
Insay
12 Oct, 2009
@MM, I hope we would stop thinking that way. Besides, not all that money can be claimed as the peoples. In fact, much of it can come from donors who have dipped their hands in the wrong places, blood money if you may, tainted, malas. Anyone who touches it stands the risk of being cursed.
Awie
14 Oct, 2009
I would like to reply this post by another article of G8 Summit :
12 Common Principles and Standards on Propriety, Integrity and Transparency
1) A strong, fair and clean economy must be based on the values of propriety, integrity and transparency. These values should be promoted by public policies and be upheld by business. Effective monitoring of the implementation of these principles and standards should be undertaken on a regular basis.
2) Governments, companies and all business entities, irrespective of their legal form, around the world should recognise that these values are the keystone of a market economy which serves the needs and aspirations of citizens of every country and which deserves their respect and confidence.
3) Any “race to the bottom” in labour, social and environmental standards and regulatory arbitrage among jurisdictions should be prevented through international cooperation and convergence of domestic legal frameworks.
4) Tax evasion and avoidance are harmful to society as a whole and companies and all business entities, irrespective of their legal form, should fulfil their fiscal duties, including by respecting the arm’s length principle in transfer pricing practices.
5) Government / business interaction, including lobbying and “revolving door”, should be conducted in accordance with principles which are balanced, transparent, fair to all parties, and enforceable.
6) Business practices and governance of companies and all business entities, irrespective of their legal form – whether traded or non-traded, private or State-owned – should ensure accountability and fairness in the relationship between management, the board, shareholders and other stakeholders. Financial structures and instruments should not be misused in order to hide the true beneficial owner and corporate vehicles, in their various forms, should not be used for illicit activities, including money laundering, bribery, shielding assets from creditors, illicit tax practices, self-dealing and diversion of assets, market fraud and
circumvention of disclosure requirements.
7) Disclosure of timely and accurate information regarding the activities, structure, ownership, financial situation and performance of companies should be ensured.
8.) Pay and compensation schemes should be sustainable and consistent with companies’ and all business entities’, irrespective of their legal form, long-term goals and prudent risk-taking.
9) Bribery, including bribery in international business transactions, should be established as a criminal offence and effectively prosecuted and punished.
10) Money laundering should be criminalised and the crime of money laundering should be applied to all serious offences, with a view to including the widest range of predicate offences.
11) Any form of protectionism should be banned.
12) Bank secrecy should not constitute an obstacle to the application of the above mentioned principles , including tax compliance worldwide.
Source : http://www.oecd.org/document/6/0,3343,en_2649_37447_43268358_1_1_1_1,00.html