It is necessary to instill the values and methods of professional and competent management of government in order to check corruption.

How bad is corruption? A World Bank report cites a study by Procurement Watch Inc. that the Philippines lost P95 billion in 2001 to corruption, an amount that could have built more than half a million houses for the poor. A Social Weather Stations survey of 700 managers across the country shows most companies set aside 22 percent of the cost of a government contract for paying bribes. Only 21 percent of the companies surveyed keep one set of accounts.

Small wonder that the problem preoccupied the annual Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference. And taking its cue from the businessmen and the Catholic hierarchy, early in her new term, President Macapagal-Arroyo has vowed to wage a campaign against corruption. She has directed Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo and Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao “to quarterback” the administration’s collaboration with the BBC on stamping out corruption. But she asked for patience since corruption, she said, could not be eliminated “in a single stroke, as a dragon could be killed with a single swing of St. Michael’s sword.”

There are two things to be said about her initiative. First, it appears to place her administration squarely on the wrong side of history. Previous presidents had made loud promises of licking corruption at the start of their office only to be licked and overwhelmed by the menace in the end. Second, the President may not be the exception to the historical trend because she has political debts to pay. And IOUs are often invitations to corruption.

Her first Cabinet appointment – Angelo Reyes to the Department of Interior and Local Government – shows early on how the payment of political debts betrays the rhetorical flourish at fighting corruption and instilling good government. As defense secretary, Reyes failed to stop the coup attempt last year by officers who complained that the military brass was not doing anything about corruption that had seen the ammunition and weaponry of the Armed Forces going to the hands of rebels by shady transaction.

Reyes replaces Jose D. Lina who has a cleaner and more visionary record as a public official. Lina’s most shining moment may be his withdrawal of support as governor of Laguna from the Estrada administration when Joseph Estrada was exposed as having pocketed protection money nationwide from the illegal numbers game of jueteng. Paradoxically, Reyes’ first public pronouncement as DILG head was to urge the legalization of jueteng, an unwitting admission of helplessness in stopping it.

Granted that Reyes is not corrupt, it is farfetched to expect reforms from someone who failed to address complaints of corruption in the military and triggered a coup in the process. Without the credibility and the credentials, he may unwittingly abet corruption in the police and the local governments. Lack of official competence and credibility is a strong factor in the resilience of corruption.

Thus, politics gets in the way of establishing and consolidating a good and competent government; it abets corruption. Already, a number of politicians who supported the President are bragging that they would join her Cabinet. Former Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez said he had been promised the justice portfolio. Former Sen. Ramon Revilla said he would like to be appointed as public works secretary, adding that he expected his son, Sen. Bong Revilla, to be appointed chair of the Senate committee on public works. The gall of these people to campaign openly for important – and lucrative – posts. They are demonstrating an utter lack of grace and modesty. They clearly believe that the Cabinet and other high offices are prizes, not opportunities for public service.

We are not saying that Gonzalez, Revilla and others lobbying for positions are corrupt. But it is necessary to instill the values and methods of professional and competent management of government in order to check corruption. It is curious that while politicians are openly lobbying for high posts, the President is not talking about any talent search and screening that characterized her first appointments during her first term.

Putting people who do not have the credibility and credentials in positions of authority will fly in the face of the corruption campaign. Electoral victory could have spoiled the prospects for a firmer campaign against corruption. The victors may divide among themselves not only the spoils of war, but also the spoils of corruption.

Philippine Daily Inquirer (Editorial), July 9, 2004