Marcos administration needs stronger anti-corruption stance – experts

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 30) – The administration should strengthen its position against corruption to be able to sustain gains, experts said as they assessed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first year in office.

Governance and political science expert Francisco Magno said there seems to be a lack of support for institutions mandated to go after corrupt officials.

“There was no advocacy or promotion of putting in more budget for the Office of the Ombudsman. As we all know the Office of the Ombudsman is highly under-resourced,” Magno said.

Magno also said it will be interesting to watch out for Marcos’ choice for chief graft buster.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires is set to retire in two years.

Meanwhile, Shanice Espiritu, policy manager of think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, said it’s important for Marcos to be able to say that he is against corruption.

“The way that the efforts of transparency and accountability are going, the way to sustain this is to craft a strong anti-corruption stance. It’s really important that the president is able to say that he himself is against corruption,” Espiritu said.

During his campaign, Marcos said corruption cannot be eliminated as it is a human condition.

Marcos told CNN Philippines that he will lead by example to show that his administration will not tolerate graft and corruption.

READ: Marcos to ‘lead by example’ in anti-graft efforts, to make PCGG go after other corrupt individuals 

Marcos also previously vowed that he will push for more efficient revenue collection to combat corruption in the government.

“There should not be any place for corruption,” Marcos said.

READ: Marcos vows to fight ‘endemic’ corruption in govt, bats for more efficient revenue collection 

Espiritu also noted efforts in pushing for transparency, particularly institutionalizing the digitalization of government processes and transactions.

Budget Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo admits it will take time before Filipinos can reap benefits.

“There will be no impact, you cannot see the impact because we just only have the first year of the administration. Malayo pa ang pupuntahan pero malayo na rin ang narating natin,” Toledo said.

[Translation: There will be no impact, you cannot see the impact because we just only have the first year of the administration. The administration has long way to go but it has already gone far.]

“It will take you a long time to digitize the system, at least five to 10 years for some institutions to develop their own digitization reforms, so it will really take time,” Toledo added.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said one of the three major items that the 2024 National Expenditure Program is planning to focus on is “to ensure macroeconomic fundamentals which will include budget for digitalization.”

READ: DBCC eyes ₱5.768-T national budget for 2024