Corruption is a significant issue faced by the Philippines today, affecting both local and national governments. Cases of graft and corruption are rampant, with reports of fund plundering being common, particularly the infamous “pork barrel” scam involving the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Funds. As a result, the Filipino population understandably harbors distrust towards the government. It is crucial to delve into the root causes behind corruption in the Philippine government, and this article provides an informative historical background on how dishonesty in the government has evolved. The commentary is commendable for its honest and direct approach, without sugar-coating the state of our government. It highlights that the Philippines, as a weak postcolonial state, struggles with being a third-world country, and corruption only exacerbates the situation. True change is needed urgently, requiring identification and resolution of the underlying problem. The article underscores that corruption has been sustained by our colonial and post-colonial history, with powerful elitist clans known as “caciques” emerging during the Spanish colonial era and persisting throughout history until today.Politics and oligarchy have intertwined during the American occupation.
Candidates for government positions heavily depend on their connections. The more support and connections they have from influential elitist clans, the higher their chances of winning. This leads to corruption as candidates feel obligated to repay favors to these powerful elites. After gaining independence from the Americans, it was a daunting task to promote democracy due to the strong presence of elitist oligarchs in our government. Their immense power and influence made it almost impossible. Corruption continues today and will likely persist as long as there is greed and a hunger for power.
The most distressing period occurred during Marcos’ regime when the late dictator and his cronies tightly controlled the finances of Filipino citizens. They plundered public funds, which remains a burden even today. This was corruption at its peak, visibly repugnant and disgraceful.
How did this happen? Marcos’ oligarch cronies monopolized businesses and offered bribes and kickbacks in return.
Why did it happen? Human beings tend to be greedy, and when greed surpasses need, corruption arises, depriving others of an acceptable quality standard of living.
After reading the article, I have come to realize that unless we find a solution for avarice and materialism, corruption will remain without an antidote.
The future remains uncertain, with the elite in power and corruption persisting in Philippine government. Our situation is disheartening, and efforts should be made to completely end or at least reduce corruption. How can this be accomplished? The author rightly emphasizes that “the nation’s leaders and thinkers must address the root causes of the problems and devise strategies to overcome the deeply entrenched tradition of corruption.” Political leadership should promote change instead of corruption, and the influential oligarchs must relinquish their control over the government to help eradicate corruption. Additionally, the government should concentrate on formulating and effectively implementing good governance strategies. Achieving a completely corruption-free government may be highly challenging, but it is not impossible to strive for as much change as possible. Attaining tangible progress should be the government’s current focus.
