Bigger, expanded task force to eradicate corruption
President Rodrigo Duterte is already exasperated with reports of corruption in government — and so am I. We want Filipinos to feel there is change in the system. And we will definitely fight corruption until the last day of the President’s term and my term, too. This is like a pandemic, a plague that continues to ruin the lives of many. It is important to remove the “bad eggs” in order to stop the damage, stop the spread of bad practices and restore the intequity of public service.
When it comes to corruption, we should always adopt a zero-tolerance policy. My sentiments come from reports of prevalent corruption in government agencies such, as the extortion in the Department of Public Works and Highways, the “pastillas” scheme in the Bureau of Immigration, the smuggling in the Bureau of Customs, the embezzling of funds in PhilHealth and the rice smuggling in the agriculture sector, among others. It is enraging to hear such reports because we, together with President Duterte, have always been committed to eradicate corruption.
After hearing of such corrupt practices, I came to a discussion with the President about the matter. We talked about intensifying the campaign against corruption even further, as it is destroying the legacy we want to leave behind. We want to finally end the reign of corruption in his last 20 months as President. We will not hesitate to do grave sanctions and we will not mince our actions.
This is why I am recommending to the President to create a bigger and expanded task force that will investigate alleged corrupt practices in all government agencies. It will conduct a thorough probe on the alleged anomalies, a lifestyle check on personnel and a detailed audit of agencies’ budgets. Those involved must be prosecuted and put to jail once found guilty of corrupt practices.
My recommendation is also a continuation of a process that we began more than four years ago when President Duterte assumed office. I remember during my time as the Special Assistant to the President, we created the Truth and Justice Coalition. Together with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and other partners in the civil society, we formed this alliance to provide an avenue for ordinary citizens to report instances of anomalies in government transactions.
The President has also fired several high-ranking officials due to reports of corruption. He has also initiated the investigation of many public officials, from the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy to the highest echelons of the government. In our zerotolerance policy against corruption, there are no sacred cows as we demand full accountability from our public servants.
Aside from stealing people’s money, corruption has many faces. One face of corruption is incompetence. Government officials are servants of the people, compensated through their salaries. Receiving something from public funds without actually working for it or legally entitled to it is also a form of corruption. Public funds must not be wasted on officials who tolerate such unscrupulous activities in their agencies. In this government, there should be no immunity when it comes to such ill of society.
This is why the President continues to earn the trust of the people. Our campaign has always been against corruption and criminality aside from the war on illegal drugs. It was his promise, and he wants to fulfill it for the people. And people continue to trust him because of his sincerity and seriousness in pursuing this campaign of eliminating the ills of society and providing a better life for all Filipinos.
Amid the continuing pandemic that has hampered not just the economy but also the lives of our brothers and sisters, corruption has become an even more important issue that we must take seriously. At the time when our people are undergoing unprecedented hardships, every single peso counts.
Furthermore, the people must also know where their money is going and how it is being used. They entrusted this money to us so it can benefit all and not just a few. That is why every peso should be accounted for up to the last centavo and used solely for public service.
However, ensuring the prudent use of public funds is not the function of the government alone. We, the people, share that responsibility, too. I am, therefore, urging each Filipino to report any anomaly they see in the government. In eliminating corruption in the country, it must involve the entire nation. Your reports as citizens will help authorities conduct accurate fact-finding inquiries, lifestyle checks and other investigative procedures.
I now reiterate my appeal to our agencies and my fellow public servants to shape up now, because our people deserve nothing less but the best kind of service from a government that puts the welfare and interests of every Filipino first before their own.
“Amid the continuing pandemic that has hampered not just the economy but also the lives of our brothers and sisters, corruption has become an even more important issue.
“I am recommending to the President to create a bigger and expanded task force that will investigate alleged corrupt practices in all government agencies.