Ombudsman: Use text to fight corruption

Current technology such as the short messaging system (SMS) service favored by Filipino cellular phone users and interaction over the Internet will soon be used as tools for fighting graft and corruption.

The Office of the Ombudsman is set to adopt the strategy of weeding out undesirables from its ranks through text messaging — a strategy already used by other government agencies — and by creating a website.

The Ombudsman’s office aims to maximize the use of SMS to stamp out corruption in government, which is powered by some 1.2 million public servants.

While the Ombudsman’s text strategy "is not yet operational," the agency’s spokesman Ernesto Nocos said, "our priority is on the lifestyle checks on government officials. Hopefully, the mechanics for this purpose will be put in place very soon."

Officials of the Office of the Ombudsman are still discussing where to set up quick reaction units and install the equipment necessary for double-checking text reports of malfeasance — such as demanding grease money from the transacting public — by government employees or officials.

The European Commission has extended financial assistance of 2.9 million euros (approximately $3.5 million or P197.2 million) to the Ombudsman’s drive against corruption and help boost the country’s image on issues regarding graft eradication.

"Part of it will go to our budget for investigation," Nocos said. "Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo is very happy the European Commission is extending to us money (for) our campaign against graft in the country."

The amount allotted for the Ombudsman by the European Commission is part of the 5.6 million-euro package it gave the Philippine government for improving good governance through a memorandum of agreement.

The donation was tagged as a fund for "improving governance to reduce poverty." Besides being used to finance the Ombudsman’s anti-corruption drive, part of the money will be turned over to the Supreme Court to provide the poor with better access to the justice system.

"This two-pronged governance initiative will help curb corruption and it will be in full swing in three years," a statement from the Office of the Ombudsman said. "The project is aligned with the thrust of Marcelo’s leadership, which (aims) to strengthen collaborative efforts" to rid the country of corruption.

Nocos said the public and private sectors should cooperate in fighting corruption. According to him, the four components in the fight against graft are "collaboration with civil society, winning the wider public’s support, cooperation with other agencies and management requirements of the Ombudsman."

The cooperation of the public, Nocos said, "will be enhanced through the creation of a database-driven and interactive website, use of text messaging to deter and denounce corruption and baseline surveys of public perceptions of integrity in government agencies."

Several government agencies have adopted SMS and Internet-based technology to improve and speed up the delivery of their services, as well as to spread awareness of their programs and, yes, investigate and fight corruption.

Because text messaging and Internet technology allow the transmission of data at extremely high speeds, both modes of digital communication and interaction are favored as marketing and business management tools — and now as tools for improving governance.