The latest corruption perception index by the Transparency International showing that the Philippines continues to “struggle to tackle corruption” would prod the administration to sack more corrupt officials, the Palace said Monday.
The Philippines scored 34 out of 100 in the index, indicating the country has higher level of corruption compared to other Asia-Pacific countries such as New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Brunei, South Korea, and Malaysia.
The CPI 2019 report said in the vibrant economic powers like China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines there were restrictions on public affairs and efforts to silence dissenting voices.
“It will goad us to sack more corrupt officials. Sack. S-A-C-K. Provided of course there is evidence to show that they are,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.
Panelo also admitted the Duterte administration has been struggling to combat corruption, but said this does not mean it is a failure on its campaign.
“We’ve been fighting corruption. And as we have seen, the President has been firing top government officials and complains against erring government officials. [T]hey have been charged in the Ombudsman and in the courts,” the Palace official said.
Panelo, however, recognized the limitations of Chief Executive’s power because of the “due process clause of the 1987 Constitution,” saying President Rodrigo Duterte cannot just dismiss officials outright.
He also said evidence is needed to prove corruption complaints.
“It will be different if all of these have been appointed by the President so he can just dismiss all of them outright,” he said.
“The problem is this: There are many complaints of corruption but the President, as a lawyer, needs certain documentary and testimonial evidence to give him the basis and many Filipinos are still afraid to reveal themselves or to give evidence of this sort,” Panelo added.
Denmark and New Zealand were the countries with the lowest level of perceived corruption, according to the report. Finland came in second, followed by Singapore, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The study from Corruption Perceptions Index also revealed that Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria were perceived to be the most corrupt countries in the world.
President Duterte has vowed not to tolerate even a whiff of corruption under his watch and has dismissed several officials, including Cabinet members who were linked to irregularities.
His critics, however, doubt the seriousness of his campaign, noting that he has given new posts to some of the officials he fired.