EDITORIAL - Forfeiture

A military-backed dictatorship opens opportunities not only for systematic human rights violations but also for amassing enormous wealth. Forty-two years after Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law to hold on to power, Filipinos have become more vigilant in protecting civil liberties and opposing any indication of a return to authoritarian rule.

As scandals in the post-Marcos years have shown, however, public officials continue to amass vast amounts of unexplained wealth. And many are seen to get away with it, especially those who put their assets in the names of their spouses, children, grandchildren, and even mistresses and their children.

The Marcoses themselves continue to live in luxury, with none of the late dictator’s direct heirs ever convicted of any offense related to ill-gotten wealth. It makes one wonder who amassed the millions of dollars deposited in Swiss banks that were turned over to the Philippine government after the assets were determined to be ill-gotten. If the money was stolen from the Filipino people, who did the stealing?

Despite the focus of the Aquino administration on the campaign against corruption, the problem persists, draining billions in public funds and deterring both big investors and small entrepreneurs. One of the principal reasons for the persistence of corruption is the belief that one can get away with it – or at least that one’s relatives will be able to enjoy the proceeds of the crime.

A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives, seeking to give more teeth to the law on forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth. The proposal is certain to enjoy public support. Whether it will enjoy congressional support remains to be seen. In reports prepared by the Commission on Audit, nearly 200 congressmen and senators were accused of skimming funds appropriated for their pork barrel. Even before the COA report came out, several lawmakers were already perceived to be amassing unexplained wealth.

The proposed measure stands a chance of approval if given sufficient support by the President. As important as catching corrupt officials is preventing them from enjoying the fruits of their crime.