What's to blame for corruption, the system or the people? Prexy bets answer

Majority of the candidates for president in the May 2022 elections believe the system is to blame for corruption, which is reportedly costing the government some P700 billion every year.

At the start of the second presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday, the candidates were asked: "Sa palagay niyo, ang korupsyon ba ay dulot ng kahinaan ng tao o kahinaan ng system?"

Of the nine presidential candidates who attended the debate, only one believes that corruption should be blamed solely on the people running the government, while two believe both the people and the system are to be blamed. The rest pointed their fingers at the system.

Citing measures like the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Red Tape Act, and the Government Procurement Act, among others, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the problem lies with the implementation of these laws.

"Hindi po mahina ang sistema. Marami tayong mga batas, mga institusyon na tumatakbo. Kahinaan po ng tao, kahinaan ng tao sa gobyerno," said Lacson.

A former national police chief, Lacson reiterated that to curb corruption, a leader must lead by example.

"Kapag ang namumuno ay hindi kayang gawin ang kanyang pini-preach, ang kanyang pinag-uutos sa kanyang mga tauhan, hindi magsa-succeed," Lacson said.

Both people, system

Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Manny Pacquiao and Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr., meanwhile, both person and system should be blamed for corruption.

"May kahinaan ang tao, may kahinaan ang sistema. Iyong batas, dapat pinipilit iyong public officials to be good, dapat napipilitan ang public officials na maging matino at mahusay," Robredo said.

She also said there should be transparency and people empowerment "because these will prevent public officials from committing wrongdoing." She added that corrupt officials should be punished.

Robredo vowed to issue an executive order on full disclosure if ever she wins as president.

Pacquiao, for his part, vowed to build a "mega prison" for corrupt officials if he becomes president.

"Subukan lang nila ako ng anim na taon. Makikita nila yung mega prison, mapupuno yun. Yung ipapagawa kong mega prison mapupuno para sa kanilang lahat," he said.

Pacquiao also believes that "leadership and political will" could curb corruption in the government. He also said automating government transactions will remove opportunities for corruption.

"Sa akin no automation, no operation," he said.

Meanwhile, as far as Montemayor is concerned, even if there are enough "watertight" laws against corruption, a corrupt person would always find a way to skirt them.

On the other hand, he said, "bad policies" in the government can turn an honest official corrupt.

"So it's a combination of [a person's] attitude and also the system," he said.

Blame the system

For the rest of the candidates, corruption in the government could be addressed by either strengthening the system or changing it compeletely.

Businessman Faisal Mangondato proposed to abolish the "old system" in the government to prevent corruption.

"Dahil luma na po ang ating sistema... hindi ito nakasaad sa pangangailan ng gobyerno," he said.

"Ang lumang sistema ay iwanan na natin at tumungo at tumawid na tayo sa bagong sistema."

Like Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said a solution to corruption is to limit human discretion in government transactions. This he said could be done by adapting to technology like what he did in Manila.

"Nagawa sa Maynila, kayang gawin sa buong bansa," he said, adding that their efforts have even been praised by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

For his part, labor leader Leody de Guzman offered three solutions: strengthen anti-corruption laws, reinforce institutions going after corrupt officials, and "revise" the election system so that personalities linked to corruption, as well as traditional politicians and members of political dynasties, will no longer be given a chance to be elected in office.

"Kahit na kasi mahigpit ang ating mga batas, kung patuloy namang nakakapasok ang mga political dynasty, ang mga trapo sa ating gobyerno, eh patuloy pa rin ang pagsulpot ng pagnanakaw," he said.

Former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, meanwhile, sees Charter change as an answer to corruption. Particularly, he favors changing the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

"Kung talagang gusto nating magkaroon ng matitinong lider sa lipunan natin, palagay ko pati yung sistema ang pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno dapat baguhin na rin," he said.

Under a parliamentary system, Gonzales said, true leaders would emerge.

"Ang pagkakaalam ko kapag parliamentary system, lumalabas ang kagalingan ng bawat namumuno. Baka po sakali na kagalingan na ang magiging batayan  ng pamumuno dito sa atin, hindi na po yung pera. Kasi natututo pong mag-corrupt ang mga pulitiko natin kasi gusto po nilang makabawi sa kanilang ginagastos pagtakbo sa pulitika," he said.

Former presidential spokesperson Ernie Abella, for his part, believeds that corruption happens because of wrong policies in the government.

"Ang korapsyon tulad ng kahirapan ay hindi po dahil sa aksidente o suwerte. Ito po ay nangyayari dahil sa mga maling polisiya na ginagawa ng tao," hesaid, adding that the "real solution" for corruption is to improve the current system.

"We need to include civil society and activate them in the participation sa local governments," Abella said. 

Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was the only presidential candidate who was not present in the debate. —Hana Bordey, Llanesca Panti, Anna Felicia Bajo, Joahna Lei Casilao, Joviland Rita, Richa Noriega, Mel Matthew Doctor, KBK, GMA News