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Friday, August 11, 2006
Roperos: War against corruption
By Godofredo M. Roperos
Politics Also
When I heard President Arroyo declare an all out war against corruption in government, I told myself, “She’s got to be kidding.” I was even tempted to laugh loud and long.
It is not that I believe the President talked out of turn and that her declaration of combat was something she may have just dreamed about, or pulled out of thin air. After years in public office and observing how the government machinery operates, she should know its limitations.
Corruption in the civil service, as our readings in public administration affirms, is nothing new. It is, if we must be blunt about it, as old as prostitution itself, which is a biblical truth.
Which is why I had to take the presidential pronouncement with my tongue in cheek, knowing full well that its success, if ever, can be measured only in hours.
I realized later on, though, that there is a variable involved. And this is the cooperation of Uncle Sam in the venture. There is, for instance, the reported $20 million US grant in the anti-corruption war as well as the drive for revenue enhancement.
A war plan has already been drawn with American assistance, of course, and this has been submitted to a US government agency called Millenium Challenge Corp., which is funding the anti-corruption war plans.
The so-called Threshold Country Plan (TCP) has a two-pronged strategic approach: the strengthening of the Ombudsman and capacitating the Department of Finance (DOF) in enforcing its anti-corruption and anti-tax evasion programs.
The twin moves is designed to drive harder the reform efforts of the government in order to achieve concrete results and win mass public support and credibility.
TCP’s first component, directed at the Ombudsman, include the enhancement of its services, which calls for the training of its personnel, electronic linking of its offices nationwide, upgrading of its surveillance equipment, and setting up of a mediation system for conflicts that do not need legal action.
The second component addresses the finance department’s capability to contain corruption and tax evasion. Three programs are being designed to help it attain its set targets.
I am not sure whether these would work out or not, but the three have attention-drawing names: Rips for revenue integrity protection service, Rate for run after tax evaders and Rats for run after smugglers.
Rips tasks DOF investigators to undertake lifestyle checks on suspected corrupt officials and employees of government revenue collecting agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). This should put BIR and BOC personnel on strict alert.
Rate calls for the BIR and DOF to file cases against tax evaders who are well known in society, if only to set an example. But this is where secret negotiations between project pursuers and pursued would likely take place at prices difficult to refuse. The pursuers should therefore be men or women of integrity beyond question or price.
Rats is self-explanatory. Smugglers at the BOC should beware the Ides of March under this plan. But again, it depends on the pursuers.
I am a believer of the saying that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Madame President, I choose to sit and wait.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 11, 2006 issue)
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