GMA expands scope of lifestyle checks
William B. Depasupil
The Manila Times
THE Arroyo administration has expanded the list of agencies and officials covered by its lifestyle check, enlarging the scope of the ongoing “shame campaign” against corrupt government officials.
The campaign initially covered notoriously graft-ridden agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The President’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said on Saturday that the Office of the Ombudsman has expanded its list of agencies and personalities to be subjected to the lifestyle checks.
The expansion of the shame campaign was recommended by Tony Kwok, Hong Kong’s chief graft buster.
“Mr. Kwok is a consultant to the Ombudsman and he has talked about their successful experienced in Hong Kong. It is only proper that we should heed Mr. Kwok’s suggestion,” Bunye said.
Although the government will be merciless against corrupt officials, Bunye underscored that the shame campaign will be carried out in a judicious manner.
“Definitely, everything will have to be done in accordance with the law. There will be due process,” Bunye said, noting that the essence of the shame campaign is stress that corruption should be abhorred.
He added that the campaign points out that “corruption is bad and that people should not profit from it.”
“All departments and agencies are set to organize their anti-corruption drives under measurable standards and results,” Bunye said. “There will be no let up in this big cleanup of the bureaucracy.”
The lifestyle check has led to the suspension and dismissal of a number of ranking officials of the DPWH, Customs and the BIR.
Among those named as alleged grafters include Salvador Pleyto and Arturo Panganiban, Public Works undersecretary and director; Customs Deputy Commissioners Gil Valera and Reynaldo Nicolas; Customs Collector Pinky Iglesias; and Customs Director Manuel Valencia.
Recently, the President also ordered a crackdown on delinquent taxpayers and big-time smugglers. The Customs recently came out with the names of 249 big-time smugglers but to date, no charges have been filed against them.
Meantime, Bunye said Malacañang is confident that unmasking corrupt officials would help boost the President’s declining satisfaction rating.
Bunye said it was not a surprise that public satisfaction over the Chief Executive’s performance dipped after she promoted economic measures that, while increasing government revenues, also gave an added financial burden on the people.
“We are confident that these negative sentiment will be transformed in due time, as our efforts to fight corruption, cut waste and grow the economy to create more jobs will regain the trust and confidence not only of the business sector but the Filipino people as a whole,” Bunye said.
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