EDITORIAL - Beyond prosecution

The Aquino administration believes the resignation of Merceditas Gutierrez as Ombudsman is a significant step in winning the battle against corruption. But there’s more to this battle than just prosecuting the corrupt. The latest Global Integrity Report should give President Aquino an idea of what more needs to be done.

From an overall “moderate” score of 71 in 2008, the Philippine score plunged to a “very weak” 57 last year, according to the 2010 Global Integrity Report. While the country rated a strong 89 in its anti-corruption laws, implementation clearly needs more work. The country was rated “weak” in judicial impartiality and law enforcement professionalism as well as the rule of law. In terms of judicial independence, fairness, and citizen access to justice, the Philippines was also rated weak. The same rating was garnered in protecting whistle-blowers, and in safeguards to prevent conflict of interest and promote fairness and transparency in the privatization of public administrative functions.

The country was rated “very weak” in its anti-corruption agency, but the President believes this will change with the departure of Gutierrez. Also rated “very weak” were safeguards against conflicts of interest and efforts to promote professionalism in law enforcement, government and the civil service, as well as in giving the public access to government information. The report noted that political interference is rampant in law enforcement.

Getting the same rating “very weak” were the Ombudsman, government auditing, oversight and controls, business licensing and regulation as well as Customs and taxation. The civil service was rated “very weak” in terms of safeguards against conflict of interest and political independence.

Only oversight and transparency in the budget process and in state-owned enterprises received a “moderate” rating. The country received a “very strong” score of 95 in terms of transparency, fairness and prevention of conflict of interest in government procurement. In the category of elections, the country was rated “very weak,” with the lowest score going to transparency in political financing.

That’s a lot on the plate of an anti-corruption President. Unless these problems are adequately addressed, it won’t matter who is picked as the next Ombudsman.