Arroyo: Corruption can't be solved overnight

Posted 02:02pm (Mla time) Mar 09, 2005
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net


(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her administration was making "decisive moves" to curb corruption in the bureaucracy, but added that the problem could not be solved overnight.

Reacting to a survey by the Hong Kong-based consultancy group, the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd. (PERC) that ranked the Philippines the second most corrupt country in Asia, the President said corruption did not happen only in her term, but has been an "endemic problem that has been existing in the last 30 years or so."

The survey, conducted among 900 foreign businessmen, ranked Indonesia as the most corrupt nation in Asia.

"While we cannot end it abruptly overnight, we are making decisive moves toward fighting it and ending it within a perceptible period of time," Arroyo said during an interaction with the media in Cebu City, where she inspected seized lumber.

Arroyo said PERC should have recognized the administration's efforts in fighting corruption, including stopping

illegal logging, strengthening the investigative capacity of the Ombudsman, filing charges against crooked officials and moving to forfeit their ill-gotten wealth, and reducing red tape in government transactions. She said values education in the past years has also been restored.

In a statement, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said: "We can expect perceptions to fester but this will abate over time as the President's war against corruption begins to show results in the prosecution and conviction of the big fish and in administrative reforms to cut opportunities for graft."

At a news briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel and anti-corruption czar Merceditas Gutierrez said the government has taken strides in its anti-corruption efforts and is now investigating five "high-ranking" officials whose alleged ill-gotten wealth could be the subject of forfeiture proceedings. The five officials include two from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, two from the Bureau of Customs, and one from the Department of Public Works and Highways. Gutierrez said graft charges have already been filed against the five. She added that the Office of the Ombudsman had already recommended the filing of forfeiture proceedings against them, but that they sought
reconsideration.

Undersecretary Mark Jalandoni also reported that at least 50 government officials are now the subject of lifestyle checks by the government.

The Ombudsman had earlier found probable cause against the cases of officials being investigated by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

Gutierrez also said that forfeiture proceedings have been filed against three military officials, including former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia.

=====================================================


What's bothering me regarding this?

THE CHINESE ARE TRYING TO DICTATE THE DECISIONS OF OUR POLICY-MAKERS.

China seems to be using this ploy to control its neighbors' economies and even ruin their image in the eyes of investors ... just to sell their own!

Our govt, corrupt?

Well, are they not also? :bs:

At least we are now doing something to defeat this corruption. :exactly:

It's about time we create our own ratings entity.

Then let's put it this way.

- MOST ARROGANT AND BULLY --> China
- MOST ARROGANT GOVT EMPLOYEES --> China
- WORST HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES --> China
...
- MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM --> Philippines
- MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE REFORMS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION --> Philippines
- MOST EFFORTS DONE IN HELPING THE UN --> Philippines
- MOST SKILLFUL, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HARDWORKING WORKERS --> Philippines
- MOST NUMBER OF WORLD-CLASS TOURIST SPOTS --> Philippines
- BEST PLACE TO SPEND DUE TO MUCH CHEAPER BUT EXCELLENT PRODUCTS --> Philippines
- BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN BECAUSE OF GOOD PLACES, GOOD FOOD, CHEAP COMMODITIES & PERFECT CLIMATE --> Philippines
- MOST HOSPITABLE CULTURE --> Philippines
- MOST FREEDOM-LOVING COUNTRY --> Philippines
- MOST VOCAL AND COURAGEOUS CITIZENS IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS --> Philippines
- BEST PERFORMING ASIAN CULTURE --> Philippines



Diba?
:exactly:

According to Transparency International, in the 2004 survey, we rank No.5 as the most corrupt country in the world. Let's see for the next couple of years if we go up or down the scale.

Now that the economy is moving slowly, one would understand that the pockets of corrupt government officials is widely open ready to drain the hard-earned economy, like the mouth of a hungry crocodile ready to pounce on it's prey.

I believe the data is exaggerated ...

... BUT THIS WILL BE GOOD FOR US NONETHELESS BECAUSE THIS WILL PUT MORE PRESSURE ON PGMA TO WORK HARDER IN REALIZING THE PIVOTAL PHASE THAT SHE HAS TOLD THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT.

SHE REALLY MUST MAKE HERSELF LOOK GOOD IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY and convince us that she really can rid the bureaucracy of corruption.

Flipzi, this is one of the funniest lines you ever posted in support of GMA. :patrioticpinoy:

:bow:

and it will take you tons of convincing, if you throw in elisha cuthbert, maybe!

GMA's SOP when confronted with accusations of corruption is that her government is in the process of addressing corruption issues. It has been like this for the past four years since she became president. Every year, our country falls deeper into the list of corruption and she continues to claim that she is in the middle of eliminating corruption in the government. It's not like she has just been elected president. She has had three years of a warmup when she took over Erap's term.

She can very well start with the armed forces. If she can do that, she can clean up any branch of government. Even congress.

As commander-in-chief she doesn't have to leave corruption charges to the courts to decide. Mere suspicion of corruption is all she needs to relieve a commander.

Even if you reach the buttocks of Elisha Cuthbert.

That's right ! Shake the tree to get rid of the pest on it's branches before it munches the whole foliage.

Wait for a corruption case to be disposed by a corrupt justice system ?

The courts is not the best deterrent for corruption unless they have shown exemplary reputation themselves.

Ombudsman prodded on Binay case

By ANNA LIZA T. VILLAS

The Campaign for Public Accountability (CPA), a multi-sectoral organization pursuing transparency, urged the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday to expedite the resolution of the P662-million plunder cases against Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, his wife former mayor Elenita, and other officials.

"The Office of the Ombudsman’s job is to determine if there is a probable cause based on the evidence presented,’’ said CPA convenor Bobby Brilliante, in a press conference held in Pasig City yesterday.

In response, Makati City authorities said politics is behind the appeal made by Brilliante for the Ombudsman to resolve complaints against Binay.

"The timing is surely suspect. It is no coincidence that such a move is being done now that the movement to oust (President) Arroyo is gaining momentum and Mayor Binay is one of the leading personalities of the movement,’’ Joey Salgado, head of the Makati Information and Community Relations Department (ICRD), said.

Brilliante said the case has been with the Office of the Ombudsman for two years now.

"We are urging Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo to resolve the graft and plunder cases against Binay,’’ said Brilliante.

The "urgent motion to resolve’’ the long delayed plunder cases was filed last Tuesday by Brilliante with Counsel Atty. Rizal Balbin and Atty. Rodolfo Mapile.

Binay and Elenita, along with other officials were charged based on the audit reports dated April 19, 2002 and September 24, 2002, issued by the Commission on Audit (CoA).

Reports said the CoA audit reports showed massive pillage of public funds in Makati City.

Binay was charged with plunder, estafa, misappropriation of public funds and grave misconduct on Oct. 23, 2003 for rigged building, falsification of public documents and overpricing in the delivery and installation of office furniture and partitions for the Makati City Hall and overpricing of hospital equipment and supplies for the Ospital ng Makati involving P430.2 million in August 2003.

However, Salgado said since the start of the political crisis, the response of the Arroyo government has been to threaten or discredit its political opponents.

"It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but this will not stop the Mayor from pursuing what is in the best interest of the nation and the people,’’ he said.

The cases were filed by Brillante prior to the start or during the campaign period for local elections, which makes his motives suspect, Salgado said. "As far as the city is concerned, the Office of the Mayor has replied to these allegations in the proper forum,’’ he said.

In September 2002, the Office of the Ombudsman had closed its investigation into the matter, he said.

-----
Demolition job? Worth looking into? Or forget it, since it's being overcome by events from the time it was filed? :dunno:

... just wanna give you something to laugh about. :armyLol:

Luvs ko kayo eh. :armywink:



Pero kung pwet na ni Elisha Cuthbert ang usapan. Totohanan na lahat! :funnypost:

Higher Position Government Official should only be allowed to serve for 15 - 20 years in Government Office this includes all Chiefs of all department. After that they should seek private practice. This position starts from Mayor to President. No next of kin allowed in public bidding.

I forgot to include. Put into law, that the government will seize 75 percent of any Government official assets if found guilty of corruption.

That leaves them 25 percent as legally theirs. If he has a four room house. confiscate 3 rooms, put it for bids, and leave one for him. Money raised in bidding will be return back to Government for social economic development.

Yahh..baby...Girl Next door..
I dont mind house arrest if I was a corrupt president if she is my personal secretary..wink :thumb:

Supporters of Mrs. Arroyo, were reported to have received the P200,000 initial “goodwill” money from still unidentified government fund sources.

The money is meant to “convince” the administration allies who have privately committed to support the impeachment complaint against the President not to sign the complaint. They were said to have been promised P1 million plus additional project-funding in their respective districts, by Malacañang.

A highly reliable source from the House of Representatives named a female legislator from Luzon and one from Region 1 as among the first few members of the House who had already benefited from the “well-oiled money machinery” of Malacañang, which money reportedly is sourced not only from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) but also from the Road Users' Tax.

The female legislator, sources said, had indiscreetly asked a fellow congressman if he had already received his share of the goodwill money since she already obtained her P200,000 last Wednesday.

“She practically admitted it

earlier, then denied it but later admitted it directly when she was confronted by others,” the source, who requested not to be identified, told the Tribune.

The other congressman was also said to have bragged about the “gift” he had received, but quickly claimed “it was not intended for the killing of the impeachment complaint. These two congressmen are members of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), Mrs. Arroyo's political party.

Another congressman said if members of Kampi got only P200,000, some members of the Lakas had already gotten their share of P1 million each. “That's why they are being called the P1 million men of GMA.”

Some of these legislators come from the Visayas region. “There are Visayans who admitted to us that the budget for this Malacañang gift came from the NCA but they said they would sign anyway because it really wasn't GMA's money.”

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20050722.hed05.html

How to Corrupt the Philippines 101 Money for nothing.

These are typical moves of a corrupt and immoral regime frying taxpayers with their own oil, for the sole purpose of clinging to power devoid of moral authority violating the people's trust. :headbang:

If corruption is as flagrant as this one that involved the two BIR officials then it's existence is clearly as bad and serious as the news tells us everyday.



http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2005/...s.arrested.html
Sun.Star Cebu - 2 BIR execs arrested :demon:

Good for the two corrupt BIR men.

ALL OF US SHOULD DO THIS ENTRAPMENT TO RID THE GOVT OF PIGS.

Imagine, we are losing P200,000 per every business as big as that because of corruption? :bs:

How much is the total?

20 billion?

What about bigger businesses being enticed by these pigs to do such?

Are we losing 200 billion every year? :bs:

Worse, the govt keeps on burdening us with new tax measures just to beat the deficit?

ALL OF US PINOYS, SHOULD DO THIS. :exactly:

IF ANY GOVT MEN TRIES TO DO DIRTY IN ANY OF OUR TRANSACTIONS WITH THEM, THEN LET'S TEACH THEM A LESSON AND HELP THE NATION WEED OUT THE BREED OF GREEDY PIGS IN GOVT.

Accountability is one, does not matter if you are just a security to the contractual employee all the way to the top. Then followed up by actions to set an example.Actions that are transparent and should be just expedited ASAP.Jail time should be severe if guilty. All worldly posessions should be reposessed.

I am sure everyone here dreams of a prosperous country. But for as long as:
Marcos, his family , cornies (turncoat politicians) and company as well as succeeding administration officials who have amassed wealth beyond their means (you know who they are) like JDV, Erap, Jinggoy, JV, Lacson, at sino pa/ ____, ____, ____ are out there, in powerful places to boot, and have evaded prosecution and justice with impunity, nothing will happen in our country.

Let's be candid here. What are we teaching our kids with all of this? Steal billions from the government and you will not go to jail, but instead be famous and powerful by entering into politics?

- Look at Imelda, Imee and the rest of the marcos Family. Bong bong is a governor, Imee is/was a congresswoman and like Imelda. They are still very much in power. Boy, Imee even has the temerity to talk and balme the government for its shortcomings and compare the price of gaungong today from the prices last year. E kung hindi ninakw ng tatay niya ang kaban ng bayan, we might be at par with Japan today. Heck, our military might even be shoping for the JSF and have stealth frigates! Pero, masamang managinip, baka mabangungot. :headbang:

- Malverese public funds and use them to buy stocks and launder them like Danding and avoid jail time. Gezz, you will even be dubbed as a defacto king maker or some sort. Who facilitated these?....

- Look at Edong and Drilon who facilitated the scheme of insulating the coconut funds in several of corporate ventures etc. which enabled them to secure Danding's stash. Drilon is a senate president and like Angara both are senatongs.

- Heck, look at Benedicto, the classmate of Marcos who controlled or shall I say monopolized the sugar industry for a long time which led to its demise. Till this day, we are far behind Thailand which manages to produce Php 300/sack agains our whic ranges 3x more. Bebendicto was able to negotiate with the government and keep some of the milions he stashed for himself at the expense of sugar tillers and farmers. That is blood money in the bank accounts of his childeren and apos. To the reader, meron ba kayong papamana sa mga apo ninyo?

- Look at JDV with his character loans or shall I say behest loans and he is still the Speaker of the House of Representatheives. Remeber the Landoil deal? E mabuti pa kapag pinautang si Pedro ng banko, nakasecure and ricipal if there is a mortgage on his properties. :dunno: Tanginag character loan yan, e hamak na mas gwapo tayo dito sa tengang ito e! :armygrin:

- Look at Erap who reneged on his promise to uplift the lives of our poor countrymen. He just rigged the SEC and it scared investors running to Thailand and China. Tarabaho yun na nawala. Isussubu na lang, naging bato pa!Immagine this is the president who does this hanky panky and stock manipulation. Nakakulong nga pero nakaaircon pa at nakakalayas at nakakapagabroad pa. Where can you see this kind of justice system in other countries which are progressive?

Tapos, babaero pa. I mean, mahilig ako sa mga babae, pero when you are in public office or the father of the country, children will emulate you! E kung an pamilya niya hindi nya maayos, ano pa kaya an pamilya ng buong bayang Pilipinas! Sumumpa siya sa harap ng Diyos noong kinasal siya kay Loy pero hindi niya tinigilan ang pagbababae. If he can reneg on his promise with the Lord, he found it easier to reneg on his promise to help lesser mortals like our underprivileged countrymen who voted and trusted him. kaya si Jinggoy, malakas ang putok. tumatangap din pala siya ng received jueteng money and sad to say, there are allgations now with Mikey Arroyo! Putcha, ano Bayan!

- Look at Lacson. It is as if he is sooo immaculate. Oh, did it occur to you that he owns several prime properties given his meager wage when he was a police officer? I mean, let's be candid about this because totoo naman e. How many of you guys here are workig 24-7 in offices so that we can provide for our family a decent living and God willing, impart in our children values which they could carry for the rest of their lives? Saan ka nakakaita na may building ang taong ito sa Makati. How lucky can he get!? No wonder Garcia had the idea and started buying properties in the US. E papano naman ang rank and file. They could not even have a genuine kevlar helmet kasi ang pera pumunta sa bulsa niy at ni Abadia.

- Look at Gringo with all the coups he has been invoved in. E, aba, push-up lang pala nag parusa at naging senator pa! No wonder mutinies happen whenever somebody has the stupid urge to stage power grab from another counter elite.

The list can go on and on and you can add here if you like. My point here is that we are teaching our children these things. Don't study, Be an actor or a basketball player so that you can run for public office and earn lots of money. If you just steal petty things like cell phones or food, you will be bamboozed in jail or worse, be salvaged. Tsk tsk tsk.

We never seem to learn and we have no sense of justice. :headbang:

Regards.

‘Judiciary biggest obstacle to anti-corruption campaign’
By Delon Porcalla
The Philippine Star 10/14/2005

The judiciary is the "biggest stumbling block" in the Philippine government’s effort to curb corruption, mainly because of its snail-paced trial of graft charges against corrupt government officials, Hong Kong’s former anti-corruption czar said.

"It can hardly be a deterrent," Tony Kwok told The STAR, noting that it takes at least six years for the courts to resolve one graft case, while it takes only one to two years in Hong Kong. Kwok, the former head of the world-renowned Independent Commission Against Corruption, said this "undue delay in the prosecution of corrupt officials" is why the judiciary is the "biggest stumbling block" in the government’s fight against corruption.

However, Kwok expressed hope that corruption can still be minimized, if not totally eradicated, if the government has the political will to weed out scalawags from among its 1.5 million personnel.

"We can eradicate corruption, provided there’s strong political will, the Ombudsman is given sufficient resources and the judiciary is able to reform," he said in a speech at a forum hosted by the Asia Society Philippine Foundation at the Manila Peninsula.

"Fighting corruption is a game of perception. In any society, there are lots of potential corrupt people," Kwok said, adding that the government can still wipe out corruption in the next two years — but only if it fulfills the three conditions he specified.

Kwok, chief advisor to the Ombudsman since 2003, said he expects a "suitable replacement" for Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo who leaves government service on Nov. 30, the date he set for his irrevocable resignation to take effect.

"The next Ombudsman should have a great degree of integrity, have a sense of mission, political courage, ability to manage, must be professional and someone who knows about corruption enforcement," he said.

Kwok also said Marcelo’s successor "should be a person who has some sense of integrity and political will to push for the various reforms which he commenced. The man should be able to live beyond his stress," referring to Marcelo’s deteriorating health, which the outgoing Ombudsman cited as his reason for resigning.

"I’m probably one of the few persons who can fully appreciate the stress of his job since I have been in this job for 27 years. There’s enormous stress in his job. I can understand if for health reasons he resigned," Kwok said.

President Arroyo, declaring war on corruption, appointed Kwok to be her special advisor on anti-corruption in May. She said she is confident that, with Kwok’s help, she can win the battle within the next three to four years.

Kwok said that in the Philippines, corruption is viewed as a low-risk, high-return crime. Most companies put aside 22 percent of the cost of a government project just to pay bribes, a survey by the Social Weather Stations polling group found after questioning 700 managers across the country.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200510140410.htm

graft and corruption will NEVER BE SOLVED, as dishonesty and lack of love of country are already accepted practices in Filipino culture.

it is Filipino culture and values that should be OVERHAULED. :headbang:

Its not the culture of Filipinos to be corrupt or accept corruption. Go talk to the Filipinos and ask them, they will say no. The problem is what can they do to stop it. They believe they can't because the corrupt pinoys are the one who has power, meaning money and men with guns.

Everytime i am on vacation in Philippines, when i go to the local store, where people gather to chat, they wish they catch and jail those corrupt people. But what can they do if they don't have the means to solve it. Look at the Garcia case, what has happen so far, nothing. Did they recover the money, was he found guilty. If the government can't even prosecute(meaning guilty decision) him, what can ordinary people do. Instead the government bulldozed the house of military families even without a proper relocaton. They can't remove retired generals from military housing, to be use by active officers. Instead they promote 13 new generals.

The current administraion and her congress, senators, and political allies want a charter change to a parliament system to stop the corruption.

They keep saying change the system, but they do not realize that its not the system, its the people. You can change the political system but you can't change the corrupt people.

Look at Chavit Singson, he admitted that he gave brive money to Erap, but what happened to him. The jueteng lord is free, and still has jueteng in his province. But the GMA administration is turning a blind eye.

Even the president, GMA denied she was the voice in the Garci tape, but after a few weeks, she admitted that was her(even with that very bad acting). If she denied it and then admitted to it, then she did cheat on th election. What she said is the proof on the election cheating.

When i saw the police forcing the protesters back with brute force on TV Patrol(The Filipino Channel) this past 2 weeks, it reminded me when i was a kid still in Philippines, watching the news of police brutalizing the protesters during the Marcos presedency.

Filipino Americans just like me, even though we lived here in the US, we are hurting because of the current situation in our homeland.

**I am not here to start a debate or argument, i just need to say what i felt on the problems in Philippines. You can ask me to to valify or find a proof from what i posted, my answer is just look at the tv news and newspapers.

Actually, no Mesiah has ever appeared in an apparition to tell the most honest angel in our government that corruption in the Filipino way of life can ever be stopped. Why ? Because corruption itself creates and put undesirable people to lead the government .

Corruption can never be stopped. To lessen and tone it down could be the hardest and most frustrating task for anyone to achieve.

This is one thing that the government and it's agency should follow:

ADB bans 40 firms, 22 persons for corruption in 2005

MANILA (AFP) - The Asian Development Bank last year banned 40 firms and 22 individuals from working for the multilateral agency due to corruption.

Since the Manila-based bank began investigating corruption allegations in 1998, a total of 250 firms and individuals have been banned from working for the ADB, the bank's integrity division said in its annual report.

However, it did not provide details on those banned and, under the ADB guidelines, the bank does not disclose the names or individuals or firms found guilty of corruption.

Last year, the bank received 199 complaints relating to fraud or corruption concerning ADB staff or projects financed by the bank, said the report posted on the ADB web site.

This was a 44 percent increase in the number of complaints it received in 2004.

The report said a growing awareness and the importance of fighting corruption have led to the growth in cases reported to the bank.

Of the 199 complaints, 102 were investigated, 59 did not warrant further investigation and 38 are still being examined, the bank said.

One of the areas the bank intends to look into this year will be the abuse of staff benefits such as rental subsidies, dependency allowances and educational benefits.

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006021356270.html

And add those providing sub-standard services especially those in public works.

One of the hotbeds of corruption in ADB funded projects is the NIA (National Irrigation Administration - if they still call it). I have a record of 7 government Project Engineers and 4 from the private contractors of the NIA-ADB convicted by the then Judge Manuel Pamaran of the Sandiganbayan. These were some of my accomplishment during my time with the defunct CIS ( CIDG).

Judge Manuel Pamaran was known as "The Hanging Judge" at that time and they were sentenced penalties ranging from 60 years to 100 years bases on the counts of the offences. I just did'nt know by now if they have enjoyed their vegetative age in jail.

15 years per count
By Romeo Pefianco

(Editor’s note: Mere administrative sanctions will not reform the bureaucracy as noted by the author.)

LAST week, the BIR dismissed five provincial employees for alleged "mishandling" of tax money. They were all small fellows compared to big city supervisors and examiners on the take.

The Customs office also relieved six employees for allegedly releasing plastic resin declared as packaging materials contained in THREE container vans, too big a "show" to be missed.

Slap on the wrist

The two revenue-raising offices did not state if the 11 employees would immediately face indictment under the law punishing graft and corrupt practices.

If the sanction stops after dismissal or relief or reassignment to other divisions in the same bureau, chances are the clean employees may get contaminated with their ways.

Multiplication results in stiff penalty

The anti-graft law provides a maximum of 15 years of prison term for every count of graft committed by government employees, a penalty stiff enough to discourage the so-called money-related offenses.

Some judges multiply 15 years by the number of counts, say, 20, to emphasize the point that graft is a kind of special offense and arrive at the total of 300 years in prison.

In the martial law years, some DPWH officials involved in overpricing the purchase of land to widen highways in the Visayas were given prison terms of more than 1,000 years. One such official died of a heart attack.

Subject to 40-year limit

The judges and prosecutors know that, except for the death penalty, the maximum prison term imposable will not exceed 40 years in the Penal Code. But one prosecutor I know told his barkada that giving 300 years or more to corrupt employees and officials may cause others to pause, ponder, and shy away from corruption.

Corrupt officials are dictated by habit and are not even scared to commit so obvious a questionable deed like clearing three vans of misdeclared cargo that deprived the government of large amounts in duties and taxes.

25 years for a clerk

Years ago, one GSIS clerk "cleared" a few salary-loan checks for his pocket. The anti-graft court multiplied the number of checks by the proper penalty. The clerk was ordered to serve 25 years for his small vices. The clearly harsh penalty shocked the bureaucracy who thought some bigger fellows in that office did not miss a meal for a bigger offense.

The anti-graft law was enacted on Aug. 17, 1960, to cover acts not squarely addressed by the Penal Code. The penalty includes "perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income."

The scary case of plunder

In the more sophisticated case like plunder, a public officer … "who amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth … in the aggregate amount or total value of at least Fifty million pesos (R50,000,000.00) shall be guilty of the crime of plunder and shall be punished by reclusion perpetua to death."

At the coffee shop, an interesting question came up: If the amount amassed or STOLEN is R1 less than R50 M is the crime still plunder?

Sliding to a lower crime

One of the best guesses is the crime would slide back to the anti-graft law that imposes 15 years per count but the total penalty is still subject to the Penal Code limit of not more than 40 years.

The difference is it removes the probability of facing a DEATH sentence and the matter of asking for bail is not farfetched.

Joke only

But why the difference of only P1 to remove the penalty of death. The answer is: SEARCH ME! Questions of this kind have hounded Criminal Law professors since the Penal Code was revised on Jan. 1, 1932. (The code was written and enacted in Spanish. The original Spanish text of the code prevails over the English text or translation.)

The actual situation is it is easier to add R5 or R100 to make a round figure of R50 M or more than to deduct R1, or R5 from it to make a difference in the penalty to be imposed. (Comments are welcome at rvp@fastmail.ph.inter.net)

http://www.mb.com.ph/OPED2006031658796.html

How far have we gone defeating it? Evidently, not far enough. For every one corrupt official that the government brags about catching, there are probably 10 that go uncaught.

:exactly:

And another 10 waiting in line to take over.

Again, as I said before. WRONG CULTURE inherent in the organization that affects even new ones. Changing the Head or name of the organization is not the solution. Changing the attitude of every member of the organization with each one responsible to correct any wrong doings being committed by a member should be implaced.

Customs digitizes documents as safeguard

First posted 05:19am (Mla time) April 25, 2006
Inquirer


THE BUREAU of Customs has started to put its documents in “electronic form” to safeguard them from loss in the hands of unscrupulous personnel and the forces of nature -- rats, termites, floods -- that are often blamed for the destruction or disappearance of records.
Operatives of the bureau’s Run After Smugglers (RATS) program came up with the measure in view of the increasing number of smuggling cases dismissed by the Department of Justice and the courts because of the failure of customs officials to produce genuine documents as evidence.

“We are determined to have none of our smuggling cases dismissed on technicality,” Customs Commissioner Napoleon L. Morales said at a press briefing after RATS operatives filed their 14th smuggling case last Thursday.

DOJ’s Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño complained earlier that many smuggling cases had been dismissed because they were only backed by photocopied evidence, with customs personnel saying that they could not produce the original records because they had been either lost, eaten by termites and rats, or destroyed by floods.

Reynaldo Umali, director of both the customs’ legal service and RATS, said they have devised a records management system and are now putting the documents in digital form.

“These are admissible as evidence in court,” he said of the digitized form, which carry codes for easy tracking. In addition, the bureau also maintains a “manual record system” to safeguard the original documents. Armand N. Nocum

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?in...&story_id=73668
====================================================

:thumb: Good move!
The loss in revenues as a result of these smugglings should really be stopped.
We need more revenues to fund govt projects.

All govt agencies should follow what the BOC has done to bring in more revenues for the govt.

2 gov’t execs sacked for graft

By Perseus Echeminada
The Philippine Star 05/05/2006

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) announced yesterday the dismissal of the heads of the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) and the National Dairy Authority (NDA) after they were found guilty of violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices law.

PAGC Chairwoman Constancia De Guzman identified the dismissed officials, who have been administratively sanctioned, as Philracom chairman Jaime Dilag and NDA administrator Salvacion Bulatao.

"These two officials are actually part of the 13 top officials recommended by PAGC for punitive action, the resolutions of which have been forwarded to the Office of the President," she said during a press briefing held at the PAGC central office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

De Guzman said some of the other officials recommended for dismissal are an undersecretary, an assistant secretary, a director, and a school superintendent. Their identities, however, were not released pending final approval from President Arroyo.

"Dilag, whose four-year term was supposed to end this August, was found to have been getting millions of Philracom money corresponding to the regular prizes and declaration fees in the Philracom-sponsored horse races and has caused numerous irregular disbursements from unclaimed dividends by clubs under the Philracom regulations (such as) the Manila Jockey Club Inc.," De Guzman said.

Bulatao’s case stemmed from an anonymous complaint about the irregular hiring of a foreign consultant for one of the projects and hiring the services of advertising and public relations agency McCann Erikson without the benefit of public bidding.

Bulatao tried to justify the hiring of a foreign consultant by presenting a certification from her project development engineers that there was no one from the existing dairy equipment suppliers in the country with a comprehensive knowledge of the milk processing and engineering requirements of the NDA plants.

But PAGC investigation showed there was strong evidence that Bulatao disregarded the government procurement law, which states that government offices have to hold public biddings for suppliers to give them the best price for the goods and services they need.

De Guzman said the two officials will face criminal charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The PAGC also announced that Toledo City, Cebu school superintendent Dr. Jose Cabantan has been suspended for three months without pay for oppression and grave abuse of authority and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officers.

The case stemmed from Cabantan’s failure to act on the appraisal reports needed for the promotion of Babylonia Ubas.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200605050411.htm

The queue is still a thousand miles away for the axe to fall on to the next corrupt public officials. Anyway, it's better than nothing will happen at all.

It's still a good way to start it!

GOOD MOVE! :thumb:

I wanna see more of this!!!! :bow:

:fire:

Death penalty to corrupt officials. people die because of poverty... so file murder charges against them.. . . but first... put it into law... possible .. no..

congress will never approve this kasi sila corrupt din.

magigisa sila sa sariling mantika.



:sniper:

and this public servant has the nose against it

P900-M checks for 'ghost teachers' returned to ARMM

By TONY PE. RIMANDO

JOLO, Sulu – When new Sulu Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Hadji Delfin Unga received recently from the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Cotabato City checks for over P900 million for alleged back wages of public school teachers and non-teaching personnel, his suspicion was aroused.

Losing no time, Unga gathered the members of the division’s budget and finance section, and directed them to scrutinize the payrolls accompanying the treasury warrants, and to check the names listed in the documents.

The payrolls and checks were intended for mentors and DepEd employees in the municipalities of Jolo, Lauk, Kalinggalang, Caluang, Panamao, Tongkil, Tapul, Lubus, Panglina Estino, Pandam, Indanan, Mambung, Parang, Talipao, Pangutaran, and Panglima Takis.

To their surprise, Unga’s budget and finance staff discovered that the names of the teachers and personnel indicated in the payrolls were fictitious.

Unga said the mentors and DepEd workers who were supposed to receive the checks for their back salaries since September 2005 were not known to the school principals and district supervisors and to the members of the school division.

In short, Unga suspected, the recipients of the P900 million checks were "ghost teachers and employees."

Invoking his authority and prerogative as highest education executive in the Tausug-inhabited island province, Unga ordered the cancellation of the questionable treasury warrants, and later returned these to the ARMM DepEd office through Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan.

Local newsman Frenci Carreon reported that Ampatuan, together with Sulu Congressmen Munir Arbison and Hussin Amin, commended Unga -- who is barely less than one year in his position — for his honesty and integrity.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2006091474417.html

To Superintendent Hadji Delfin Unga, may your tribe increase :thumb:

But some were not as lucky

Ampatuan’s legal adviser, driver killed in ambush

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200610059901.htm

It's another scenario of powerplay within the Autonomous region which is not surprising among muslims.

This "moro-moro" attitude is in their blood veins since time began with them.

Tha's why another Bangsamoro like waht the MILF is asking will only aggravate the whole situation because the fueding elites will get more reasons to manipulate the system for their greedy ambitions.

Here is the difference between corruption in the USA and corruption in the Philippines.

In the US., they go to Jail. In the Philippines, they go to US. ! : :armyeek:

Graft buster subjected to lifestyle check by own men

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=53790

:brrt: Akala mo ha?

"He is too rich for his position. How can he teach the bureaucracy if he lives like that?"

:exactly:

There are plenty there in the crook's paradise at Bureau of Customs, LTC, and the Bureau of Internal Remedio (BIR).

We're going down...

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=55319