Another anti-graft commission

Almost every administration has created a special anti-graft body and promised to fight corruption. The best intentions, however, often fail to go beyond political rhetoric. The late Ferdinand Marcos, who vowed to make the nation great again, bled national coffers dry and brought the country to ruin. Joseph Estrada famously said at his inaugural that he would give no special favors to relatives and friends. Now he and some of his relatives and cronies face charges for graft and the capital offense of plunder.

The other day, President Arroyo signed an executive order creating the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, which is tasked to investigate admi-nistrative complaints for corruption against public officials. How will this new body fare? Corruption has been institutionalized in this country since the colonial era, when many Spanish officials considered assignment in the Philippines as an opportunity to enrich themselves.

Both Filipinos and foreigners doing business in this country learn early that greasing palms can buy you efficient government service, and offering kickbacks or commissions can land you a lucrative government contract. Connections are prized: the friend of a friend of a well-placed official can land you a fat contract. If you don’t have relatives or friends in government, you can get an influential official as godparent in a wedding or baptism. Among politicians, the groundwork for corruption is laid when campaign contributions are sought – each donor expects to cash in when the politician wins. Debts of gratitude run deep, and paying some of these debts can take a lifetime.

Changing this culture of corruption will require a resolute political will to implement major reforms. Stopping bribery at the higher le-vels of government will take some work. But immediate results can be achieved by simply cutting red tape and minimizing opportunities for graft in front-line agencies. If you can register your car within a reasonable time without greasing palms, or get a business permit quickly without anyone from City Hall asking for coffee money, that’s progress. And of course catching the corrupt and punishing them will discourage graft – if the new anti-graft commission can do its job.