Ex-generals call on government, public leaders to fight corruption

MANILA - A group of retired Philippine military generals and senior government officials on Tuesday called on public leaders to fight corruption, saying the problem remains the same even under the new Marcos administration.

 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development says there are over 5.6 million families living in poverty as of 2022. The Asian Development Bank reports that economic growth has gone through boom and bust cycles, and recent episodes of moderate economic expansion have had limited impact on the poor. Great inequality across income brackets, regions, and sectors, as well as unmanaged population growth, are considered some of the key factors constraining poverty reduction efforts. (Photos by Al Jacinto)

Calling their group “Advocate for National Interest”, some 20 former military officials, including past Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, released a signed statement and a copy furnished The Mindanao Examiner also urging electoral reforms. 

“We, retired, senior military officers and government officials who advocate national interest support the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to tighten checks and balances in order to revitalize the economy, the proper usage of public funds so they are not reduced by the corrupt, not squandered, and not wasted. As we usher in a new administration, the enemy remains the same. It is corruption, it is corruption. That feeds crime, it worsens poverty, it erodes hope,” the statement reads. 

It also cited a 2012 report by the Transparency International that ranked the Philippines – then under President Benigno Aquino 11 - 105th in the Global Corruption Index, but four years later in 2016 - during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte - the country was rated 85^th, but slid down to 117th out of 180 countries in 2021. 

The group said the worsening state of corruption was supported by the statement of the Deputy Ombudsman in 2019 when he estimated that the country was losing P700 billion annually. 

“Very recently, 13 out of 19 captains of major industries revealed that corruption is the biggest risk to economic recovery and the top deterrent factor in expanding foreign investments, based on a survey by two highly credible NGOs.” 

“Other scandals in the past involving corruption, include the coco levy fund, unabated smuggling of illegal drugs rampant, misuse of PhilHealth funds, bribery in the Bureau of Immigration and overpriced purchases by the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service of medical supplies involving Pharmally and laptop computers for the Department of Education,” the statement further said. 

These scandals occurred during the time of the Duterte administration. 

“It is widely believed that the mislabelling of pork barrel funds to circumvent the Supreme Court decision outlawing the PDAF allows the continuance of misuse of the funds such as for commissions of some legislators and government officials in charge of public works. The public funds diverted for private gains have deprived our people of resources that would otherwise have been wisely spent for improving basic government services,” the group said, referring to the scandalous and controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund, a discretionary fund available to members of Congress. 

The group admitted that the limited data above do not represent the entire picture of actual circumstances on the ground, “but they reflect a microcosm that needs our attention.” 

“We observe that self-interest and disregard for the common good is pervasive among many public officials from the highest levels to the lowest, instead of honesty, sacrifice and discipline for the benefit of the majority. We believe that addressing these societal dysfunctions - corruption, poverty and injustice - will require good governance by elected and appointed officials imbued with integrity, intelligence and competence,” the statement said.

It added: “We therefore strongly recommend to the public officials concerned, that to institutionalize good governance, the Constitutional provision on removing political dynasties be legislated as soon as possible and that electoral reforms to do away with money politics be initiated and implemented in due time, before the next national and local elections in May 2025.” 

The former officials said corruption is indeed the enemy. “The tone, the example, the first step - it must start from the Government. Corruption first festers, and is most corrosive, in public office. And it is most damaging when perpetrated against the public coffers. We know the enemy, it’s time to slay it,” they said. 

Yano, in a phone interview, said their group is not siding with any political leaders, not even President Ferdinand Marcos, but is just raising the corruption issue that is houding the progress of the country. “Walang personalan ito at issue lamang. Ngayon kung may tamaan, bahala na sila,” he said. 

Those who signed the statement were Ramon Farolan, Renato de Villa, Rodolfo Biazon, Edilberto Adan, Emmanuel Bautista, Guillermo Cunanan, Plaridel Garcia, Alejandro Flores, Victor Librado, Emilio Narayag, Eduardo Oban, Alexander Yano, Plaridel Abaya, Roberto Yap, Mariano Santiago, Renato Valencia, Recaredo Sarmiento, Mariano Santiago, Niceto Festin and Eliseo Rio. (Mindanao Examiner)