Corruption and the Invisible Victim

By: O. D Corpuz

 If the Aquino administration wishes, for a change, to put teeth into an anti- corruption campaign, it must seriously, quietly, work to get the people sense and identify themselves with the national interests, to move them to see themselves as the victim, and stress the treachery and heinousness of a violation of the laws by public officers.

LEGACY
The punishment of corruption is more complex than the punishment of ordinary crime. Two important factors normally weaken the campaign against people involved in crimes against persons and property.

The first is the weakness of the prosecution and judicial processes. The second is the fact that, in most cases, the public usually does not see the victim (he is dead or crippled, or fears the red tape of bureaucracy).

In the case of public scandal or corruption, aside from the intercession of political allies in behalf of the defendant, the publics awareness of the crime is even more hazy. Our people are jaded; they expect or forgive some measure of official mischief or felony. The outrage, if it exists, is largely urban, and does not stir the people in the provinces. Where public money is involved, inflation and the conditioning of the public mind to escalated peso figures into billions (as in the GNP, national budget, and foreign debt figures) have eroded the masses sense of proportion and blunted the sense of loss. One or a couple of million pesos, Kalimutan na natin. And who, anyway, has lost what? The public sees no victim; the victim is something the media calls the public interest; it is not visible at all. Chalk it off as just another Manila media or ritzy hotel Kapihan, bulung-bulungan, item.

If the Aquino administration wishes, for a change, to put teeth into an anticorruption campaign, it must seriously, quietly, work to get the people sense and identify themselves with the national interests, to move them to see themselves as the victim, and stress the treachery and heinousness of a violation of the laws by public officers. Needless to say , here the President cannot afford to act from sentiments of friendship and kinship, for as the saying goes, The President is not a man, although a man is the President.

In no other way can the government land the big one.

Silence, or indifference, is bad for democracy. It means that the citizens affected do not express their civic approval or disapproval. If it is disapproval that is withheld, it seethes but is bottled up, and can only be known when it explodes.

Citizen Code of Ethics

By: Pres. M. L. Quezon

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Have faith in Divine Providence that guides the destinies of men and nations

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Love your country for it is the home of your people, the seat of your affections, and the source of your happiness and well-being. Its defense is your primary duty. Be ready at all times to sacrifice and die for it if necessary.
Respect the Constitution which is the expression of your sovereign will. The government is your government. It has been established for your safety and welfare. Obey the laws and see that they are observed by all and that public officials comply with their duties. Pay your taxes willingly and promptly. Citizenship implies not only rights but also obligations. Safeguard the purity of suffrage and abide by the decisions of the majority. Love and respect your parents. It is your duty to serve them gratefully and well.

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Value your honor as you value your life. Poverty with honor is preferably to wealth with dishonor. Be truthful and be honest in thought and in action. Be just and charitable, courteous but dignified in your dealings with your fellowmen. Lead a clean and frugal life. Do not indulge in frivolity or pretense. Be simple in your dress and modest in your behavior. Live up to the noble traditions of our people. Venerate the memory of our heroes. Their lives point the way to duty and honor. Be industrious. Be not afraid or ashamed to do manual labor. Productive toil is conducive to economic security and adds to the wealth of the nation.

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Rely on your own efforts for your progress and happiness. Be not easily discouraged. Persevere in the pursuit of your legitimate ambitions. Do your work cheerfully, thoroughly, and well. Work badly done is worse than work undone. Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today. Contribute to the welfare of your community and promote social justice. You do not live for yourselves and your families alone. You are a part of society to which you owe definite responsibilities. Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines. Patronize the products and trades of your countrymen. Use and develop our natural resources and conserve them for posterity. They are the inalienable heritage of our people. Do not traffic with your citizenship.

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