Ombudsman pledges transparency in anti-corruption fund use

The Office of the Ombudsman assured the public yesterday that the P1 billion released by Malacañang for the government’s anti-corruption campaign will be spent in transparency.

Speaking at the regular Newsdesk Forum in Quezon City, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro said the Office of the Ombudsman will coordinate with the Office of the President to identify key areas where the funds are much needed.

"Insofar as the Ombudsman has already stated, these funds will be spent with transparency," he said. "It will be used in the investigation and prosecution, the improvement of such activities in accordance with the guidance."

Casimiro said with the additional funds, the Office of the Ombudsman is confident of wiping out graft and corruption by 2010.

"We have developed strategies since the time of Ombudsman (Simeon) Marcelo, and with our present ombudsman, we have finished our strategic planning for three years, and it is now under review by the ombudsman," he said.

Speaking to international Liberal leaders Thursday at the Dusit Hotel in Makati City, Senate President Franklin Drilon said fighting corruption can only be effective in a democracy, where accountability is mandatory for public officials, and where there is a strong and independent judiciary and a resolute and vigilant media.

"In my country, corruption is the root of bad governance," he said.

"Indeed, to assert that corruption harms Philippine society is an understatement. Corruption robs our children and generations yet unborn of a bright future. It deprives people of choices."

Drilon, who is also Liberal Party president, did not mention to his audience how he and the Senate tried to block the implementation of Executive Order 464, which banned government officials from attending congressional inquiries without presidential approval, and Presidential Proclamation 1017, on the declaration of state of emergency last February.

"However, of these I am certain: in a democracy, the civil and political liberties of the people are promoted and protected by democratic institutions. In a democracy, the will of the governed, is the bedrock of a strong and credible government," he said.

Drilon warned that in the middle of security threats, many democracies are facing the dilemma of balancing the promotion of civil and political liberties as against the higher interest of upholding the survival of the state.

"I submit that democracy in my country is still a work in progress," he said.

"While constitutional safeguards are in place to prevent the resurgence of an authoritarian regime, we need to embark on bureaucratic and political reforms. We need to strengthen our judicial system. We need to undertake electoral reforms in order to promote and preserve the integrity and credibility of the electoral exercise."

Drilon said corruption has impeded Philippine economic development, forcing over eight million Filipinos, or nearly 10 percent of the population, to migrate to almost every corner of the globe, looking for jobs which the economy cannot provide.

"Bad governance, the root of all economic ills can be squarely addressed only in a democracy because of the presence of institutions and legal environment that make governments and corporations accountable," he said.

Drilon called on authoritarian governments worldwide "not to hide under the cloak of economic progress to justify authoritarianism," and that economic success does not necessarily translate to political success.

"People, regardless of race, color, creed or ethos, aspire for democratic space and right to political expression," he said.

Drilon appealed to democratic leaders to collectively promote democracy and to support those who are suffering political persecution because of their relentless fight for democracy and freedom in their home countries.

"Friends, there are vibrant democracies in Asia," he said. "And there are countries where voices calling for an end to political persecution have been silenced through intimidation, harassment and even bullets."

Drilon said strong adherence to democracy in most parts of the world had spurred technological advancement and free flow of information and created an environment conducive for human development before the last century ended.

"I submit that democracy has its share of economic, political and social tensions and democratic space is always packed with risks and threats," he said.

Drilon spoke to over 100 international Liberal leaders who are in the Philippines for the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD)-Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)-Liberal International (LI) Meeting in Manila, Cavite and Tagaytay from June 22 to June 24.

Drilon is the chairman of CALD.

Commissioner Teresita Baltazar of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission agrees with Casimiro that the government is adopting a "zero tolerance approach" against corruption.

"We stand a chance of eradicating corruption," she said. "We are trying to replicate the practices of other countries. We are adopting a zero tolerance for corruption that is systematic. We need systems reform to combat corruption to attain zero tolerance for corruption."

Baltazar said corruption must be checked at the level of government agencies, and that sanctions system should be strengthened.

"Agencies must have internal complaints units," she said. "Agency heads must realize that they have the responsibility to eliminate corruption. It is a management function. They should be held responsible and accountable."

During the same forum the non-government organization Transparency and Accountability Network expressed skepticism that the government would be able to lick graft and corruption with the additional funding.

"We do not know where they will spend the money on," said Vince Lazatin, Transparency and Accountability Network chairman.

"We have seen a lot of lip service to fight corruption. We want more to be done. In her State of the Nation Address, the President said she would make the BIR as a model for transparency and accountability. But we are not sure what she has done."

Lazatin said government agencies must have a public disclosure policy to allow the public to gain access to information that are categorized as public.

"Everything is a cat-and-mouse game until we can prove that a particular information is public," he said. "All information is public unless covered by law saying that it is confidential." — Mike Frialde, Christina Mendez