Light in the midst of darkness

Corruption is not a victimless crime.

Businessmen suffer because there is no level playing field. Foreign investment slows down. Higher taxes do not necessarily result in better government services and infrastructure works.

Corruption deprives. It benefits only a few. It makes the poor poorer. People die because of corruption. It demeans all of us.

A culture of corruption permeates Filipino society. It has become a way of life, as the latest five-year SWS survey on corruption shows. The latter reveals that two-thirds of enterprise managers from five major urban centers in the Philippines consider public sector corruption as very bleak.

Nowhere is this bleakness more apparent than in the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The same survey shows rising solicitation of bribes with regards import regulations, even as solicitation of bribes in relation to income taxes and getting local government permits or licenses decreased slightly. Perceived net sincerity of the bureau in fighting corruption from 2000-2005 was lowest among 26 government agencies.

The survey merely confirms common knowledge. Many unqualified and shadowy figures have become fixtures at the BOC Cebu. Legitimate brokers are often bypassed while dubious ones transact business. Two systems exist side-by-side: One sanctioned by law; the other circumventing and making a mockery of it. Law-abiding importers and exporters are often harassed, resulting in large government losses.

A Friday club exists making sure that those in authority see no evil, hear no evil, and report no evil. Flashy cars and questionable lifestyle among some employees and fixers no longer raise eyebrows.

But there is light at the end of the dark tunnel. We support the four-point reform program at the BOC which seeks to increase revenue, facilitate trade, level the playing field, and streamline process through technology. We applaud the courage of Atty. Lourdes V. Mangaoang in weeding out undesirables, even as we denounce the cowardice of those who have made death threats. We will continue our support as long as such reforms continue and there is leadership by example.

But the new Cebu customs collector cannot do it alone. People must be held accountable and answerable to the present mess at BOC Cebu. Creating a corruption-intolerant culture is everybody's concern. As a corruption-intolerant Church-based movement, Barug Pilipino calls upon all the Christian faithful and all true citizens in business, government, media, etc. to contribute their share in the fight against corruption.

We must start with ourselves by responding to the call to personal conversion. Vested interests must give way to the common good. Political interests must not interfere with the reforms. The rule of law must be upheld. This is a long drawn-out war over our people's minds and hearts; not a partisan-political skirmish played out for the media while opportunities scramble for position. When the dust settles, the culture of corruption remains.

We encourage whistleblowers and anti-corruption crusaders to stand up and be counted. You are not alone. Together we have and can make a difference.

Doing the right thing is its own reward. Let us give our country and ourselves a fighting chance.