EDITORIAL – Another body against graft

Malacañang should not be surprised if the public was underwhelmed by the creation of an oversight body to fight graft and corruption. President Arroyo announced the creation of the oversight body last Friday after business leaders presented her with a list of their main concerns. Topping the list was good governance, which included graft and corruption. The Presidential Oversight System for Government Procurement will review all procurement contracts suspected to be tainted with favori-tism, overpricing and unethical practices, the President said. It will be headed by former finance secretary Jesus Estanislao, who seemed surprised by his appointment.

Until Saturday there was still confusion about the nature of the oversight body. The President said Esta-nislao would not be working for the government and need not leave his work in the private sector. Estanislao’s understanding of the new office is that it will merely serve as a watchdog for government procurement contracts. He better clarify his role quickly before someone blames him for an anomalous government deal or, worse, sues him in connection with his new job.

Criticisms of the oversight body started even before its functions become clear, with some describing it as the same dog with a different collar – a reference to the other offices created under different administrations to fight graft and corruption. Will the creation of the oversight body water down the functions of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission? Will there be an overlap with the functions of the Office of the Ombudsman?

People are wondering if Malacañang did the legal footwork for the President’s latest announcement. Several times in the past months Malacañang had to backtrack on the President’s pronouncements because her officials failed to do their homework or she failed to consult her advisers. In announcing the creation of the oversight body, did the President speak off the cuff again, the way she seemed to have done when she appointed her husband as her special ambassador for overseas Filipino workers?

People sick of corruption are willing to give the President the benefit of the doubt. But even those who wish her well see in the creation of the oversight committee a confusing half-baked attempt to show that the administration is doing something to fight a deeply entrenched problem.