Corruption is prevalent in the private sector!

I just got this text message from Mr. Rex Carampatana of the Green Team in Cebu that the Gibo Volunteer Center for Cebu has finally opened at the second floor of the Shamrock Building fax 253-5239 cell nos.0922-826-2135 and 0922-826-1356. All those who want to volunteer in this campaign are urged to drop by the Gibo Volunteer Center just across Fuente Osmeña.

* * *

In his 73rd Charter Day speech, Vice-Mayor Michael Rama extolled the virtues of his grandfather, Don Vicente Rama who never got involved in corruption while he was in public office. I fully concur with Mike’s assessment of his grand old man. The same is also true with the late Pres. Sergio Osmeña Sr. who was never involved in any corruption while in office, but even went to the extreme of not using the powers of the Presidency for his advantage in campaigning for the first elections under an Independent Philippines. That is why he lost the elections and Gen. Manuel Roxas became the 1st President of the Philippine Republic. That’s because he had delicadeza!

Indeed, those days of delicadeza are gone now. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, when Defense Sec. Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. quit his post in the Defense portfolio for the sake of delicadeza, so he can’t be accused of using the vast powers of the Defense Department for his political advantage. Sad to say, we can’t say the same for the other members of the Cabinet who are seeking public office, yet they cling on to their cabinet posts waiting for the Supreme Court to yank them out of their chairs. Yet even with the SC decision, they still refuse to budge until the decision is deemed final and executory!

I had lunch with my good friend, Paquito Unchuan and we talked about the problems this country is having with corruption. We both agreed that most of the Filipino people believe that corruption is happening only within the government sector. Corruption is also happening in the private sector. I’m referring to the ordinary people who also help promote corruption yet they shout out against corruption, but do they do something about it? I doubt it!

In Matthew 7:1-5; “Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye, while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

So who then are those in the private sector who engage in corruption? Well, if you’ve tried to get your driver’s license (or your traffic violations) through a “fixer” you just engaged in corrupting the government agency. How many businessmen are out there doing their respective businesses, yet they do not pay their employees the minimum wage? If you’re one of them, then you have no right to demand for a clean and honest government when you are part of the system that corrupted it in the first place. If you’re a businessman and evade taxes, you’re corrupt to the core!

Have you seen the car bumper stickers of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) that declared in their motto; “Be Honest even if others are not!” I have heard many people who want Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to be the next President because he will eradicate corruption. I say that’s a lot of bull! When Pres. Cory Aquino took over the reins of power from the Marcos Dictatorship, there was no question about her honesty. So why hasn’t she removed or reduced corruption? As Manong Max Soliven used to write, “They kicked out Ali Baba, but the forty thieves have remained! Of course Manong Max was referring to the Kamaganak Incorporated, rela-thieves of Cory!

* * *

Kudos to Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) for suspending the memo of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) that threatened ship owners and operators. This should be good news to the Aboitiz Transport System (ATS) because they recently purchased two second-hand roll-on, roll-off passenger vessels from Japan worth US$7.5 million each. Just a year ago, we thought that the Aboitiz Group would be selling out its Shipping business to a competitor; now they’re putting new investments into ATS in order to aim towards operational excellence and modernize its fleet. I guess the Aboitiz group was buoyed by the income of ATS of P428.8 million in 2009 compared to last year’s net loss of P49.4 million.