BIR chief cool to shame campaign

Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. sees no need for a "shame campaign" against corrupt government personnel, as proposed by a foreign adviser of the Office of the Ombudsman.

However, Ramon del Rosario Jr., Coalition Against Corruption president, said the government must continue to shame, "in accordance with law," known tax evaders, smugglers and corrupt officials.

"Of course, we have to do it with Christian charity governing," he said. "But if they are known to be offenders, I think they should be treated as such."

Del Rosario, also a Makati Business Club director, said a "shame campaign" must be strong enough to discourage corruption without violating human rights and the constitutional guarantee to due process.

"(We should be able) to create the impression that there will be a cost to you and your family if you are caught committing a crime," he said.

Parayno said the government must carefully study the proposal of Tony Kwok, former chief of Hong Kong’s independent commission against corruption, since it might "not fit" in with the culture of Filipinos.

"I don’t know what is meant by Mr. Tony Kwok," he said.

"We don’t have anything deliberately shaming people. But for us, once you get caught and we are able to develop the case, then we announce to the media that the person has been charged in the interest of transparency and disclosure."

He is ready to discuss with Kwok the government’s anti-corruption campaign, Parayno said. — Aurea Calica