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Marcos should jail people if needed, Nordic business leaders, envoys say
Widespread corruption in flood control projects has painted a “troublesome” image for the Philippines and while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is doing a good job to hold people to account, the government should be ready to “put people in jail if need be” to restore investor confidence, the Nordic Chamber of Commerce (NordCham) president said on Thursday.
The business chamber and Nordic ambassadors from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden said foreign investors want the Philippine government to show political will by jailing corrupt officials and bringing to justice those who are involved in corruption.
In a Manila forum, they said they are encouraged by Marcos’ commitment to reforms and to investigate corrupt officials, but stressed that stronger steps must be taken to stem corruption.
“It will be an important signal, a healthy signal to see people actually starting to end up in jail for theft of public property… And stealing from ordinary Filipino citizens,” said Denmark’s Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin.
With political determination, Mellbin said the government under Marcos “has the opportunity to actually change the Philippines.”
“It’s not that difficult, having the political will to punish those who transgress and put to justice those who do not follow the rules, and to make sure that it is not profitable business to be a Filipino bureaucrat,” he said, noting that doing these would help the country “become stronger.”
While the general impression of the Philippines as a business destination is “good,” Nordic Chamber of Commerce president Bo Lundqvist said the massive irregularities in government flood control projects involving powerful lawmakers and public officials in collusion with private contractors has put the Philippines in a negative light.
“It is troublesome,” he said.
Lundqvist said the Philippines is not the only country that has this reputation, but the latest corruption scandal gave it an impression “of being difficult to do business in.”
“I think the administration is doing a good job to put down their foot, to put people to account to the fullest, to put people in jail if need be, and that’s the only way I think to convince the business community… To decide to invest,” he said.
Saija Nurminen, Finland’s envoy to Manila, said strong law enforcement is important in any country to curb corruption. However, “if there is no consistent implementation and accountability,” any “perfect law” is deemed useless.
Norway’s Ambassador Christian Lyster, meanwhile, encouraged civil society and media to actively call out illegal and unethical practices in government, saying having good oversight “is very, very important” in the implementation of laws and regulations.
He said it is crucial to have a “vibrant civil society and a critical media” in making sure that “laws are actually implemented on the ground.”
Swedish Ambassador Anna Ferry said transparency in government is key, adding that digitalization of all government transactions and records would help curb corruption.
The envoys said there is “no quick fix” to corruption, but eliminating it is “not impossible.”
“There is unfortunately a widespread culture of accepting corrupt practices in this country,” Mellbin lamented, but said the “very small practical step” of addressing challenges such as taxation, red tape and bureaucracy “can be a big step forward” even if “the progress is slow.”
The role of foreign business chambers in the Philippines is very important, he added.
“This is a powerful voice,” Mellbin said. “The government does want to have a good relationship with foreign investors. We do want more foreign investments to come to the country.” — JMA/KG, GMA Integrated News
