Wanted: A cure for deeply rooted corruption in the country

THE good news is that the Philippines isn’t the only country in the world affected by corruption. What we need are investigators, judges, and mediators who are both politically and financially independent. These investigators must not be exposed to any advantage or disadvantage from any subsequent decision in the future.

Investigator independence is the alpha and omega of a good anti-corruption policy. Furthermore, whistleblowers need immunity from prosecution and, if they wish, a new identity. No one should fear any consequences.

We are all tired of corruption and theft by politicians who continually reward themselves without regard for the greater good. They are all people without a fatherland, without patriotism in the positive sense. They see our state as a kind of self-service store. All countries, to a greater or lesser extent, have corruption problems.

It would also be beneficial for all employees of a company to share in the profits; who cheats themselves? China has made exemplary progress in combating corruption over the past 20 years, regardless of the area. Therefore, the entire economy benefits from it; in a few years, China will even surpass the US economically.

But the corruption problem is also a matter of education. Young citizens must be taught, starting in kindergarten, that constant profit and ever-increasing possessions to increase one’s own wealth are not honorable, but rather serving the community and creating a future worth living for all of us. Therefore, such citizens should be remembered more often with public awards as a kind of “hero of the people.”

It may be a bit out of date to quote Fidel Castro here, but he essentially said that anyone who steals from their own people is no longer human but scum, because in doing so they harm the poorest of the poor, and they can’t defend themselves anyway if they’re denied education like schools and books.

However, if you look at the history of corruption in the Philippines over the past 80 years since the end of the war, a pattern becomes clear. Corruption is as deeply rooted in this country as a tree is in the earth.

Convicted corrupt individuals should be subjected to severe confiscation, so deeply damaging that they can only survive on welfare. This certainly serves as a deterrent, rather than prison (where the embezzled millions might be waiting for them somewhere after their release), because those who love luxury and suddenly lose everything they love are less likely to risk everything. Nevertheless, I haven’t given up hope for this country (yet).

Before working as a freelance journalist in Germany, I had the rare pleasure of majoring in philosophy at university. My professor at the time quoted the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “Corruption is merely a swear word for the people’s autumn.” So, if we are in autumn according to Nietzsche, what awaits the Philippines in winter?

Jürgen Schöfer, Ph.D.,
Biopreparat.Schoefer@gmail.com