EDITORIAL - A papal call against corruption

The heat has started to subside now that the frenzy over the Filipinos' date with the pope is over. It's back to normal for the lives of millions who, for a few days, have been captivated by the presence of the charismatic head of the Catholic Church.   

As Pope Francis flies out of the country today, he also leaves images of unforgettable experiences. There's the visit to Tacloban City and Palo town to comfort the disaster victims.

Aside from sympathizing with the Visayas inhabitants, one significant moment in Pope Francis' trip was when he called on Filipinos from all walks of life to reject every form of corruption.

In a speech after his meeting with President Aquino at Malacañang, the pontiff said: "As many voices in your nation have pointed out, it is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity, and commitment to the common good."

By singling out corruption, the pope must be aware of the extent of corruption in the country, and understands that it's the main reason why widespread poverty continues to exist.

It's really hard to understand why Filipinos cannot beat corruption. For the past 50 years, it's the most serious problem besetting the government and a main reason why the country cannot take off economically.  

Because it flourishes unhampered in every branch of government, some say corruption has already become part of the nation's political culture that weeding it out is now next to impossible.  

The Aquino administration may have boasted of an honest-to-goodness crackdown on corrupt public officials. But it's too early to call it a success because only few have been dismissed from service or sent to jail.

The pope has already spoken. And if the present administration is really serious on getting the job done, there's no need for it to train its eyes on the opposition. It should start cleaning up its own backyard.