The recent news in the Philippines says that 92 government officials and employees were dismissed from the government service due to graft and corruption.
It’s about time that the Civil Service Commission as well as the Office of the Ombudsman must be vigilant and see to it that the existing law on public officers and employees are properly observed and enforced.
There are still so many corrupt government officials and employees in the Philippine government service despite the existence of the “Anti-Graft And Corrupt Practices Act” (Republic Act No. 3019), the law dealing with graft and corruption of public officers and employees as well as the existence of the “Code Of Conduct And Ethical Standards For Public Officials And Employees”.
Public Office Is A Public Trust
Any public office from the Office of the President down to the lowly government janitor is a public trust. Any government officers or employees are mere servant of the people.
Every government offices whether it is an elective or appointive position is imbued with public interest. Such office is created for the benefit of the public and not for the benefit of the temporary holder of that office.
Such office must never be use for personal enrichment or for personal aggrandizement. Additionally the salary or wages of any government officers or employees comes from the public coffers or public funds, the ultimate source of which is taxes from the people themselves.
Thus, any government officers or employees owe to the public their salary or wages since it is the tax payer money which is the very source of their compensation.
Accountability Of Public Officers
The Constitutional source of the accountability of public officers in the services of the Philippine government is expressly provided for under Section 1, Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, on Accountability Of Public Officers which expressly provides the following:
“Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest life.”
Thus, it is clear from the afore-quoted Constitutional provision that the accountability of any public officers and employees to the people is a “continuing accountability” from the time of their oath-taking and the performance their official duties up to the date of their retirement.
Take note of the word or phrase “at all times”.
What quality of service must a government officials and employees gives to the public?
The law says that the service must be “with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest life.”
Any government officers or employee is commanded to live a modest life both in their public as well as in their private life.
If any government officers or employee violates the said Constitutional provision, or any provisions of the Anti-Graft And Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019) or any provisions of the Code of Conduct And Ethical Standards For Public Officials And Employees” (R.A. 6713), then an appropriate complaint may be filed before the Civil Service Commission or the Office of The Ombudsman as the case maybe for proper investigation and appropriate action against any erring government officials or employees.
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I really hope that with our new President here in the Philippines, all the corrupt officials should be dismissed from office. Lifestyle check should be done to each and every one of them.
Those who have been proven to have their own businesses acquired while in public office should be further investigated and be dismissed from their office with benefits forfeited.
That way, people who are in public office will really see to it that they will not be corrupt also and gain richness while in office.
Not only in Philippines but anywhere in the world. Corruption must not be tolerated. As this is the main source from where black money is generated. These people who work in government offices get all the job and facilities and still crave for more which is disgusting to say the least. All this while the common man of the country is suffering. This happens in almost all the countries. The sooner these people are weeded out of the system it is good for the economy of the country.
This corruption starts from the top usually and the system runs down in the form of a chain to the bottom. Since many get away others also get emboldened and end up doing such things and corrupting the society. This eats into the vitals of the economy of the country. And takes the country and its growth down in the long run. Such people should be removed from service and jailed as that will act as a deterrent to other indulging in such malpractices.
Corruption is widespread in many parts of the world, but in India and some parts of Asia it is very rampant and almost a disease and becoming a habit, which is not easy to break out of.
However, in recent years, many state Governments in India and the central Government, as well as in some other Asian countries have started becoming stricter against corruption.
This fight is not easy, and the problem is that not only Government officials, but public too has started accepting corruption and breaking law as part of life.
This is a bit of moral problem too, and I believe education at home, apart from school can take care of this.
Corruption by way of corrupt people has no place anywhere! But they especially should not hold government positions. So whenever they are exposed? Publicly give them the BOOT! They are in positions of public trust. When they violate that trust everybody should know and they should be adequately punished for their deeds!!!
Government officials and employees should always think that they have jobs, they have the positions because their salaries came from people's money, from taxes. And they are there to do good for the office and to serve the people well.
Graft and corruption deeply rooted in our country hard to eliminate. It might eventually be eliminated in percentage, but when other president comes in, it goes back to the oldest system which is condemned by the world.
There are many such rules, Acts, Laws, and volumes of commentaries written on corruption in every Government of a country. There are many officials and departments coming into existence to arrest corruption. There are many courts with many lawyers moving in the corridors searching for their clients and moving around courtrooms to defend their clients. Everything is for proper implementation of the so-called rules, regulations, Laws, and blah..blah...There are many politicians coming up with various colorful flags, shirts, dresses, caps etc., in the name of serving the public but no one could really arrest corruption. Is it such a great and invincible thing in nature?
If the corruption is unable to be conquered then the forces acting against it must be very weak. But, this is not the thing because the corruption is prevailing among the forces acting against corruption. This is the only reason for its all-pervasiveness.
there are lots or laws and i hope all people obay it taht is the only reason or thing to have peace and ll live peacefully with comfort and no stress at all in live, its fantasy i guess and will not be true guys