EDITORIAL - Housecleaning

A key official of the Bureau of Customs in Cagayan de Oro City has been ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman after failing a lifestyle check. Eduardo Ginea Wong, according to the Department of Finance, accumulated assets and started businesses that were not commensurate with his earnings in government, which amounted to P30,665 a month up to the time of his dismissal. Probers said Wong also failed to declare real properties in his official statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.

Wong was found guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty. Similar offenses have also led to the dismissal by the ombudsman of spouses Marlon and Emma Pascual from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The couple reportedly also failed to declare several assets in their SALN. In 2001, the couple had a combined salary of P278,424, according to investigators.

All the dismissed officials, who professed innocence, can no longer work in government. They have lost their civil service eligibility and retirement benefits.

Surveys have consistently shown that the BIR and BOC are perceived to be among the most corrupt government agencies. Any effort to clean up the two bureaus will be good news for the public. If the housecleaning nets bigger fish, it will be even more appreciated. In recent years there have been reports of even the lowest ranking regular employees in the two agencies facing charges for unexplained wealth. They are surely emboldened by the example set by crooked superiors.

Corruption in the two agencies means inefficient service. Earlier this year, there were reports of a five-month backlog in the release of shipments in the BOC. The problem was attributed to the sweeping reorganization in the bureau last year. But why should organizational changes lead to worse service in a bureau notorious for inefficiency?

Every layer of red tape, and any delay in the delivery of government services is an opportunity to collect “facilitation fees.” The lifestyle checks being conducted on BOC and BIR personnel must be complimented by a streamlining of systems and processes in all revenue-generating agencies. If we want good government, opportunities for corruption must be eliminated.