THE multisectoral Coalition against Corruption (CAC) recently lambasted President Arroyo for failing to rein in corruption in her administration and even misusing her power of executive privilege to block investigations into wrongdoing in government.
In a statement released last Dec. 1, the 11-member CAC chaired by former Central Bank Gov. Jose Cuisia said no one has been held accountable in the spate of scandals that have rocked the Arroyo administration since 2001, including the cheating in the 2004 presidential elections, the distribution of cash gifts in Malacañang, the bribery scandal in the awarding of the National Broadbank Network project to China’s ZTE Corp., and the Philippine National Police “Euro generals.”
“We have not witnessed corruption of this magnitude since the years of the Marcos dictatorship,” the CAC said.
It added, “Corruption is the gravest threat to Philippine democracy and society today.”
The CAC pointed to the scorecard just released by the Millennium Challenge Corp. showing that the Philippines has fallen short of the performance standard in controlling corruption. Its percentile ranking slid to 47 percent from 57 percent.
The MCC is a U.S. government corporation that gives assistance to poor countries that meet certain standards, including transparency.
The coalition also cited the 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International in September showing the Philippines in 141st place, along with Cameroon, Iran and Yemen.
Reacting to the call for action of bishops led by Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo to address poverty and corruption issues, the the CAC urged citizens to join its challenge to political leaders to undertake reforms. “We Filipinos are our own liberators,” it said.
The CAC pushed for citizens’ participation in local development planning and budget reviews, strengthening of the civil service, and sanctions on corrupt public officials instead of whistleblowers.
“We strongly urge the Ombudsman to act on pending high-profile corruption cases, to increase the office’s pool of competent field investigators, and most importantly, to uphold her mandate to serve as protector of the people and not of the powerful,” it said.
The CAC consists of the Ateneo School of Government; Barug Pilipino; Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development; Caucus of Development NGO Networks; CBCP-Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas; CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace; Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Makati Business Club; Management Association of the Philippines; National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, and the Transparency and Accountability Network.