Eye Opener
By Rodolfo P. Gumabong

Is Pres. Arroyo sincere in fighting corruption?

The Philippines is No. 2 corrupt nation in Asia , according to a report printed in a leading daily newspaper in Manila recently. Probably after reading this headline, Pres. Arroyo answered by saying, “I will fight corruption now”.

Madame President although this move of yours is long over, the Filipino people want corruption eliminated in the higher echelon of the public service. Start firing corrupt officials in the BIR, Customs, DPWH, DepEd, DENR, LTO, LTFRB, PCSO, SEC, GSIS, and 15 other lower echelons in the government.

Ombudsman Simeon V. Marcelo said that 12 billion pesos is the fiscal deficit of the Philippines last year! In the procurement of government supplies and materials alone, about 30-60 percent of government funds are lost to crocodiles and vipers in the government service.

For a P100 million project, P30 million is lost to corruption and the implication of this corruption according to Ombudsman Marcelo is that P30 million can buy a Ford Expedition and a lot in Ayala Alabang, or 30 million will almost pay 750,000 textbooks.

This is only one government agency Madame President. There are about a hundred government agencies conducting procurement of supplies and materials starting January of every year. How much will the government lose to procurement from over 100 agencies if an average of P30 million is lost to procurement alone for every agency?

Our heavenly Father, look upon these corrupt government officials. Rampant stealing of people's money is going on unabated. The rich getting richer while the poor getting poorer. Many people eat only once or twice a day but the corrupt spend lavishly in gambling dens, prostitution houses, hotels and other irrefutable places while the poor like farmers, carpenters, honest merchants, and businessman, street cleaners work hard to help Philippine economy grow!

Corruption is a deterrent to a socio-economic development. Why? Instead of spending government fund to improve our water system, drainage, farms, highways, technology, etc., the money by the billions go to corruption. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God'. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.” Psalms 14: 1

Pres. Arroyo should be the one to set an example by firing those corrupt government top brasses in her own official family. After these government officials, are fired, examine their assets and liabilities and file cases for enriching themselves while in office. This and this alone, the people will believe the President and erase the bad image of the Philippines as the No. 2 most corrupt country in Asia .