EDITORIAL - Transparency vs graft

Corruption has become endemic in the Philippines, a fad, and is on the rise in every agency of government, and eradicating the scourge could not be accomplished within a lifetime. This is according to the official mandated to lead the campaign against corruption, Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

Defending the proposed 2024 budget of his office, the ombudsman attributed the problem to the fact that “money becomes power, and if you have power, talagang sikat ka (you are really famous).” He lamented that Filipinos have lost respect for God and themselves.

While his assessment is accurate, Martires has courted controversy. For someone who recognizes the seriousness of the corruption problem, critics have been disheartened by suggestions from the ombudsman that go against efforts to promote transparency and good governance.

In September 2021, he had pushed for five years in prison for anyone who would make “commentaries” on the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of government officials.

Martires had barred access to the SALNs even by the media without the approval of his office – a move that critics said went against provisions of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Although Martires’ move did not stop officials from making public their SALNs, it was used by key public officials to withhold the release of their asset statements since 2017, beginning with then president Rodrigo Duterte.

This time, Martires wants Congress to stop the mandatory publication by the Commission on Audit of its initial reports on government agencies, ostensibly to prevent public prejudgment of these offices. The COA reports are accessible on its website, and concerned agencies are given a chance to explain issues raised regarding their utilization of public funds.

If a country suffers from endemic corruption, transparency should be among the indispensable weapons wielded against the scourge. The suggestions of the ombudsman go against this. It has often been said that those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear. Graft busters have enough problems trying to get past bank secrecy laws that have turned the country into a money laundering haven.

The constitutional body that is supposed to be a vanguard against corruption should be leading the charge against opaqueness in the utilization of people’s money. Martires already has a sound appreciation of the gravity of the problem. Instead of aggravating corruption with measures rolling back transparency, the ombudsman should be part of the solution.