When can we see the end of corruption?

The inaugural speech of the newly-installed president, Noynoy, was unexpected. It was a very simple speech but a compelling one. The part that struck me most was when he said that it was not his idea to become president for he only wanted become an honorable son to his parents and country, a good brother to his sisters and a good citizen. 

The idea came from the Filipinos themselves who put him at the helm to end their sorry state long-unheeded by the administration before him. While gargantuan the burden ahead of us, we will overcome the burden nonetheless.  

As I have repeatedly admitted, I did not vote for Noynoy. But the people have spoken – and have spoken well by an overwhelming majority. For those who did not believe in him, the challenge is not only to submit to the collective will, but to compel one’s self to support the new administration with equal resolve and cooperation. In like manner, the president must rise to the challenge to disprove the unbelieving by simply proving to the believing that he is the president who will change the face of governance – one that is untarnished by indifference or betrayal and a leadership that will bring about real economic deliverance.

On the issue of corruption, the Filipinos are one hundred and one percent all out to weed corruption to the roots. While I agree that putting good people can help but it doesn’t solve the problem of corruption entirely. An angel is just helpless against a horde of devils that control most or if not all of the government agencies that you can find. Noynoy should learn from history why her late mother couldn’t just contain the problem of corruption even with all the effort to lead by example as an incorruptible public official. As the late Cardinal Sin wises, “Of what good is an angel if she is surrounded by Sodom and Gomorrah?”

Four presidents have passed since Edsa One all with the same vow to put an end to corruption but failed. It seems to me that the only imperative to winning in the elections is to simply reuse all over what people love to hear and hate to think at the same time. But there must be an end to all these lip service. We are all tired and impatient. People expect to see that ending coming in Noy’s regime -- but it is also a tall order.

Corruption is both an issue of persons and systems. A system even with all its weakness can still work if you have good people to run it. On the same wise, no matter how good the system is but if it is ran by bad people, it will not also work. Our case is more of both. We do not only lack good people but we have a bad system ran by bad people – and that what makes it so difficult to solve.

I may not have the answers but the initial workaround should be to reduce the number of people in government. Less people mean less corruption and more savings to government coffers. And with a few people to watch over, it is easier to target the crooks.

Corruption also thrives because we can’t seem to get rid of partisan politics in government. More often than not, the party in power has the tendency to commit more corruption simply because it is easier to get away with it because they run the whole show. I would support, therefore, a law banning partymates to be appointed in government posts. Appointments should be based on merit, experience and moral standing not party affiliation. 

Corporatocracy is also another disease in this country that is more devastating than the corruption that thrives at the post office. Corporatocrats are those who own big businesses and whose generosity only happens during elections. Payback time is handsome when their officials get elected. They do not only corner large government contracts but lobby laws on their favor. As to how far the new government can go to rid of this country of corruption also depends on its willingness to go after the very big guys outside of government.

The depth and breadth of corruption that exists in this country is so complex it is hard to imagine how we are going to solve it. But I am hopeful because we still have our vigilance intact – that has always been our last resort and the only thing left of the Filipino spirit that never fails.  

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