Raffy Lyl B.

Lasco
Angeli C. Ramirez
BC 12-0
According to Olesegun Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria, Corruption, the
greatest single bane of our society today. Indeed, corruption is now becoming a social
phenomenon (South African Press Association, 2013). Corruption is defined as the wrongdoing
on the part of an authority or powerful party through means that are illegitimate, immoral, or
incompatible with ethical standards (Duhaimes Law Dictionary). It is understood to be the
exploitation of a position of trust typically in the public sector, in order to receive a private gain,
which may or may not be financial (Katz, 2011). In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2015,
Philippines ranked as the 95th corrupt country among 168 countries and territories
(Transparency International, 2015). Looking at it objectively, this is a negative effect on the
country. In the year 2008, the country achieved its highest corruption rank, 141 st among 180
countries (Transparency International, 2008). The succeeding years showed improvement from
the 2008 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) result. The country ranked 139 th in 2009, 134th in
2010,129th in 2011, 105th in 2012,94th in 2014, and 85th in 2014 (Trading Economics, 2016). Last
years CPI result reversed the progress that the country started in 2008. One good example of
corruption in the Philippines is the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) Scam or
simply called as the Pork Barrel Scam (De Guzman, 2013). The brain behind the scheme, Janet
Lim Napoles, and other lawmakers and various government agencies involved allegedly
embezzled 10 billion pesos from their PDAF (Carvajal, 2013). Other examples of corruption in
the country include plunder case against former President and now Pampanga Representative
Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo and son Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado Ignacio Arroyo,
criminal complaint against incumbent Anini-y Antique Mayor Reynaldo Policar and several other
local officials in connection with a P1.5 million feasibility study for a water supply system, and

the recent corruption allegations against current Vice President Jejomar Binay (TorresTupas,2013; Estanislao,2015). Corruption in the Philippines is one of the biggest problems that
the country is facing today, yet can be solved y eliminating its causes.
The roots of corruption in the Philippines are mainly selling and buying of votes,
submitting late audit reports, and delaying justice (Abrugar, 2014; Camello, 2011). Vote buying
and vote selling is the pernicious practice prevalent every election especially during the
campaign period, or on Election Day itself when the voters are about to enter the polling booth
(Sison, 2013). This is one offense where the vote-buyers have to cooperate with the vote-sellers
to consummate the act (Sison). When it is already a deal, the vote-buyers cannot denounce and
file a complaint against the vote-sellers because they may also be held liable for accepting the
money (Sison). This is why corrupt voters give birth to corrupt politicians (Abrugar). Similarly,
timeliness in submitting audit reports was also neglected by the Commission of Audit (COA)
(Abrugar). The Commission of Audit is the government agency responsible for examining,
preventing, and reporting frauds happening in the government (Commission of Audit,2014).
Under the pillar of organizational efficiency, one of COAs objectives is to enhance the quality,
timely delivery and effectiveness of audits of COA (Commission of Audit). Considering the
recent Pork Barrel Scam which took three years or more before it was reported to the public, it
can be seen that COA failed their objective (Abrugar). Another cause of corruption in the
Philippines is the delayed justice that the country has (Camello). Philippine justice is not
credible, and most of the Filipino people are losing respect for it because it cannot enforce the
rule of law against prominent characters and powerful corrupt government officials (Camello).
Graft cases, for example, are decided 16 years after the crime (Pefianco, 2014). Another great
example is the Maguindanao Massacre (Jose, 2015). Truly, justice delayed is justice denied
(Gutierrez, 2007).

Hinged on comprehensive research, graft and corruption can be solved by removing its
three roots specifically with three distinct solutions. Vote-selling and vote-buying could be solved
by punishing the vote-sellers and vote-buyers (Abrugar, 2014).Several laws have been
implemented to stop the act of vote selling and vote buying. Section 28 of R.A 6646,series of
1988 states the persecution of vote-selling and vote-buying. According to Omnibus Election
Code Section 22, both acts are considered as prohibited and punishable (Chans Virtual Law
Library,1985). The issuance of Resolution No.9688 by the Commission on Elections last May
2013 allowed the warrantless citizens arrest of persons engaged in vote-buying and vote-selling
(Man,2015). The solution to the late submission of audit reports is to submit these reports on
time (Abrugar). It is important to be timely in submitting these reports because: 1) it would be
pointless looking at a late audit report; 2) it would difficult to recover the funds misappropriated
by the corrupt officials; and 3) it would be the accomplishment of COAs objective (Abrugar). Ali
said in his diagnostic study of accounting and auditing practices that the probable reason of late
audit reports is because of the standards of the countrys accountancy education (2002). He
suggested raising the countrys standards of accountancy education and training for better
auditing in the future (Ali, 2002). The third solution to this social problem would be activating the
sovereign power of the people that has been enshrined in Article II, Section 1, of the constitution
which says: "Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from
them (Camello, 2011). The only way to accomplish this is through the creation of grand and trial
jury systems (Camello). This would give the people the sovereign deciding voice in justice and
keep away the deciding power of justice in the hands of solo judges and solo prosecutors in
serious criminal cases (Camello). A trial jury decides the facts of a case of a formal trial, usually
consisting of 6-12 members (FindLaw, 2016). A trial jurys decision is final (FindLaw). Although a
decision may be appealed, a trial jurys determination of the facts will hold throughut the entire
appeal process (FindLaw). A grand jury helps the prosecutor decide whether to bring crimininal

charges against a suspect in a crime (FindLaw). Grand juries usually consist of 23 people
(FindLaw). However, a grand jurys decision is not the final step in a case (FindLaw).
Realistically, there is no perfect solution to a problem. Though the exact beginning of
corruption in the Philippines has not been defined yet, it would be better to stop this
phenomenon before it spreads to the next generation of Filipinos. The presented causes are not
exactly the cause of corruption. Those three are some of the causes of this social problem. The
best solution would be punishing the vote sellers and buyers. Several laws have been published
regarding the punishment of these vote sellers and buyers. Though many laws have been
implemented, not all people are aware of these laws. Now, this would create another problem. A
vote is right of any citizen that must not be wasted. Voting a certain official for a trusted position
is similar to suicide. It is like giving up a life for an instant happiness, money. At the end of the
day, that instant happiness will turn to lifetime pain and struggle. Philippines, as of now, is crying
for help from her citizens who are sitting back and doing nothing. She is yelling to stop all the
graft and corruption happening in her. This could be done by choosing the right person for a
trusted position. Words of those campaigning officials can fool the hearts of a thousand people
but it cannot fool the brilliant minds of a million people.

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