EDITORIAL - Another war that must be won

Joseph Estrada, who famously vowed to give no special favors to relatives and friends, was ousted over perceptions of corruption and cronyism. In the campaign against graft, public expectations of his successor are understandably high. At the risk of political instability and social unrest, the Arroyo administration indicted Estrada and a court ordered his arrest. Although slow, the cases against Estrada, his son and friends are moving.

Corruption, however, is found not only in the highest levels of government. The administration must not lose sight of graft throughout the bureaucracy, which has slowed down the delivery of basic services, turned off investors and generally set back national development. The Office of the Ombudsman, tasked to investigate graft complaints, is swamped.

This week Eufemio Domingo resigned as chairman of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, saying he could not stay longer in such a "high-tension" job. President Arroyo is said to be eyeing Makati Business Club president Ricardo Romulo as Domingo’s replacement. Will a change of leadership make a difference? Several administrations have set up presidential agencies to fight graft, but with little to show for results.

Domingo’s resignation and the reason he gave remind the nation of how difficult it has been to fight corruption. Efforts to cut red tape keep getting snagged, especially in revenue-generating agencies. When measures are implemented to cut red tape, those who benefit from grease money quickly find new ways of slowing down the delivery of services. At the Social Security System, the president who tried to implement reforms got booted out when affected employees, some of whom are facing graft charges, staged their version of people power ostensibly against his abrasive management style.

If the nation wants to compete and survive in the global economy, it must win the war against corruption. In recent days the attacks in the United States and the emerging battle against terrorism have diverted the nation. The change of leadership in the anti-graft commission should remind the administration that there’s another war to be fought and won on the home front.