A culture of corruption

The press has speculated about it since the early days of this administration, criticizing President Estrada for it. Now someone who should know enough about the workings of this administration has come out in public, giving credence to what the President often dismisses as unfounded criticisms. In an interview yesterday, resigned Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu denounced the culture of corruption particularly in three revenue-generating bureaus under the finance department. More damning for the administration, Espiritu said "people with no accountability" were using the President and influencing decision-making in government.

Espiritu said he resigned out of frustration over his failure to curb graft and corruption in the Department of Finance, particularly in the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs and the Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau. At the same time, he said those people with no accountability to the public should go on vacation. Espiritu admitted that among these individuals are some presidential advisers. People can put two and two together and surmise that these individuals with no public accountability are hindering efforts to stamp out corruption.

In another move that seemed to bolster Espiritu's claims, Josefina Lichauco also resigned irrevocably yesterday as undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications, expressing "deep disappointment" and frustration over her job. "I have always been a decent public servant," Lichauco said.

In his inaugural speech, the President vowed he would give no special favors to his relatives and friends. A year and a half into his term, people close to him are the stuff of news reports, opinion pieces and blind items on corruption. With his survey ratings taking a nose dive in the past three months, the President has said he wants a clean slate this year as he institutes reforms. To do this, he will have to start cracking the whip on some of the people closest to him.