Investigating corruption in government

EDITORIAL

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered an inter-agency task force led by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra III to investigate corruption in the entire government.
    In his televised address to the nation Tuesday morning, the President said Guevarra’s team can decide which corruption allegations to investigate, considering the gravity and impact on the delivery of government service.
    They have until June 30, 2022, Duterte’s last day in office, to complete this task.
    Eradication of corruption was one of the promises that swept then-candidate Rodrigo Duterte to victory. Filipinos, tired of the usual promises from politicians, placed their faith in the tough-talking former mayor of Davao City.
    Four years later, it appears the problem is much too big and much too deep. Mr. Duterte himself has acknowledged that corruption continues to exist.
    Most recently, officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation had been accused of pocketing billions of pesos even as poor Filipinos are unable to afford healthcare especially during this time of public emergency.
    Dozens of PhilHealth officials have quit their jobs in the past few months as a result.
    In the same address, Mr. Duterte ordered the investigation of corruption at the Dept. of Public Works and Highways but practically absolved its Secretary of doing wrong.
     There are numerous other agencies accused of corruption: Drugs through Customs,  facilitation of entry of Chinese workers, white sand on Manila Bay and a long list of allegations, big and small.
    Filipinos have been living with corruption for the longest time. People have learned to bear the painful knowledge that many officials are cheating taxpayers out of hard-earned money, and that only very few of them, if at all, would go to jail for their misdeeds. It is time for people to act on this. 
    The President’s order will not be enough. The crooks in government know too well that all they have to do when they find themselves in the spotlight is to wait out the media cycle until the public finds something else to be angry about.
    Some of the accused, instead of acting honorably, simply wait to be appointed to yet another government post. The special ones enjoy unlimited support and trust, even defense and praise, from powers-that-be.
    These acts dilute the Executive’s purported tough stance on corruption, and the effort that Secretary Guevarra’s task force might make to comply with the order.
    Filing of charges against hoodlums in government in courts would be another challenge. Multiply this with the number of individuals and cases that would be tried.
    Eradicating corruption seems like an impossible job at this point. But if the President is clear and consistent in his message, and practices zero tolerance of the accused regardless of their political affiliation, then perhaps in a few years, there would be evidence these are being addressed.
    As pundits say, talking tough and then merely slapping erring officials on the wrist dilute what would otherwise be a strong anti-corruption message.
    People know the criminals and they are in all offices of government. They are just afraid of saying who they are during these times of fear and uncertainty.