BY:BGEN JOSEPH G. SEVILLA AFP
GOD SAVE THE PHILIPPINES FROM CORRUPTION
Our government’s peace efforts and good governance are vital prerequisites for national development. Unfortunately, our leaders have failed to generate the full support of all sectors of society including the churches and ordinary citizens so that genuine development can be achieved.
A case can be made that many of us Filipinos, including our leaders, are corrupt or at least corruptible. Some may disagree, but if we are willing to be honest with ourselves, many will admit this truth. Over the years, we have evolved into a society where corruption has become deeply ingrained in our culture. While many deny this, claiming it is merely tolerated, the reality is that corruption continues to thrive. Ironically, we are the only Christian nation in Asia, and yet we are considered among the most corrupt. This is why some sectors are now calling for harsher punishments, including the reimposition of the death penalty, for those found guilty of plundering public funds.
Today, people seem to go easy on corrupt officials, politicians, bureaucrats, military and police organizations. Otherwise, how could election fraud, bribery, kickbacks, and dishonesty in government and private dealings continue to flourish? These cannot exist without our silence, complicity, or tolerance.
In fairness, there have been efforts to expose corruption in recent years. The pork barrel scandal involving Janet Napoles remains one of the most notorious examples of how billions of pesos intended for the people ended up enriching politicians. But that was not an isolated case. We continue to hear of scams and anomalies in the DPWH, DA, DepEd, Bureau of Customs, BIR, PhilHealth, GSIS, SSS, DBP, the Military and Police forces, the Philippine Veterans Bank, and even veterans’ and retirees’ pensions and benefits. Yet, despite a series of investigations, many of those involved remain free, untouched, and emboldened to keep plundering. We hope the separate investigations being conducted by Congress, the Ombudsman, NBI, DPWH, and the newly formed Presidential Independent Commission on Flood Control Anomalies will finally be completed, and that those found guilty of plundering public funds will be punished immediately. Otherwise, we risk sparking people’s power movements similar to what is now happening in Indonesia and Nepal.
Recently, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. exposed the alleged massive DPWH flood control scam and other infrastructure anomalies involving trillions of pesos in public funds. This money could have alleviated poverty and uplifted the lives of our people, but instead it was lost to corruption. While a growing number of citizens from the poor and middle classes have spoken out, far too many still idolize corrupt politicians—especially during elections, when “dole-outs” and handouts are given. In effect, people accept money stolen from their own pockets, while honest but poor candidates stand little chance of winning because they cannot buy votes. Vote buying perpetuates greed, corruption, and political dynasties, trapping us in a vicious cycle.
The sad truth is that many of us admire corrupt leaders. And this, more than anything else, explains why our country remains poor. Decades ago, the Philippines was the second most prosperous economy in Asia after Japan, and the most advanced in Southeast Asia. Today, we have fallen behind China, Singapore, Nationalist China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and perhaps even Cambodia—despite our abundant natural resources, thriving agriculture, tourism potential, and most of all, hardworking resilient people.
Our hope now lies in a change of mindset. If those in the upper and middle classes, together with ordinary citizens, can unite to reject corruption and support honest leadership, then perhaps we can still save our nation from its downward spiral.
BGEN JOSEPH G. SEVILLA AFP (RET)
Former Bohol Provincial Board Member & OIC-Governor/
ROLP National Chairman & President/ Member, Board of Trustees of the Veterans of World War II / President, Bohol Dagohoy Veterans Association, Inc.