‘Corruption endemic in RP’

Corruption is endemic in the Philippines and cannot be easily eradicated, Malacañang said yesterday.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye stressed the administration’s anti-corruption efforts after Transparency International classified the Philippines as a country with severe corruption.

"Corruption cannot be solved with just a snap of a finger as it is deeply rooted in our culture," he said. "What is important is that we are not playing deaf and blind on the issue."

"Lifestyle checks" of top government officials and the filing of cases against some senior figures are examples of the government’s effort to stamp out corruption, along with other reforms in the bureaucracy, he added.

The administration is continuously looking for ways to stop corruption to build investor confidence, as well as direct government funds to where they are actually intended, Bunye said.

On other hand, Executive Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo had ordered a lifestyle check on all public officials and employees which led to the filing of cases against several ranking government officials.

"Reforms are underway in every nook and corner of the bureaucracy to promote good governance," he said.

"Most importantly, political reforms through Charter change will spur effective, clean and honest government at both national and local levels as political power becomes decentralized and moves closer to the people," Ermita said. — Aurea Calica, AFP