STAMP out corruption in the government sector. This was among candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises.
It’s good he’ll now focus on this. Corruption being systemic in this country and institutionalized by Ferdinand Marcos during his twenty-year tenacious hold as president, Duterte’s anti-corruption fight will be long and arduous.
As he listed drug lord coddlers, so should Duterte with corrupt people in government.
A year after Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino became president in 2010, he issued an executive order creating the Governance Commission on GOCCs (GOG).
The target was all government owned or controlled corporations. GOGs were meant to correct the gaping disparity between the salaries and benefits of GOCC employees and officers.
Did the GOG succeed? Not everywhere. The 2013 COA report revealed irregular allowances and benefits, including cultural clothing, family allowance, high-roller allowance (whatever that meant), and pet expense.
Bonuses were allowed for expenses on birthday gifts for children, flying pay and recording minutes.
Other uncommon benefits involved All Saints’ Day financial assistance, groceries, Filipiniana (???) and year-end grocery allowance.
Glaring packages between P7M to P12M in 2013 went to the top six principal officers of such GOCCs as GSIS, Land Bank of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Angeles City Water District, Pagcor, SEC, Home Development Mutual Fund, Bases Conversion Development Authority, and Philippine National Construction Corporation.
Fortunately, some GOCCs complied with the Aquino executive order. Board directors who once received P60,000 a month for meetings accepted the pay cut in half.
Duterte could give teeth to the Aquino directive. Corruption is not the monopoly of GOCCs. It’s in the PNP, the judiciary, LGUs, and everywhere else.
He does not even have to wait for whispers or reports funneled through 888. He can just span his gaze across the roomful of convention delegates from government companies/agencies.
Easily he can see men sporting thick bands of gold necklaces that could put any legitimate pawnshop or jewelry store to shame. Underneath their barongs are watches of brands Rolex, Cartier, and Bulgari.
On the tables or by the chairs are women’s bags proudly bearing brands of Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Judith Leiber and Marc Jacobs.
And when the convention is over, or when other events lead to other venues, Duterte and his watchdogs only need to see the phalanx of Mercedez Benzes, BMWs, and expensive SUVs.
If Sen. Manny Pacquiao boards his Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Lincoln Navigator, or Mitsubishi Pajero V6, he will not raise eyebrows.
All other mortals, the salaried government employees, will and Duterte’s men should be quick-footed in snatching them.