Ombudsman Remulla vows reforms, modernization in anti-corruption fight

The country’s anti-corruption fight should go beyond accountability by pushing for systemic reforms, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Tuesday.

Remulla made the call during his speech as keynote speaker at Sikhay Laban sa Korapsyon, a forum held to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day.

“Corruption kills. Not metaphorically, but literally. We've got to escape the relief that the government can protect its own people. The nation asks a question: how do we make sure that this never happens again? Our national conversation can't stop at accountability. Accountability is mandatory, but it is not enough,” Remulla said.

“We must perform a harder task, fixing the systems that allow corruption to take root. We must move past asking who is at fault and demand what must change. Because without reforms, the same abuses will be under new names and under new faces,” he added.

Remulla said the Ombudsman’s office wants to institute reforms within their ranks by February next year, mainly on digitalization and making every day at work count with prompt action.

“We [must] implement modernization. Corruption crimes where data is weak and paper trails disappear. That's why we are building a fully digital database. We integrate our systems, digital forensics, tamper-proof networks, AI-supported verification, and secure investigative workflows," Remulla said.

“The Ombudsman's office will refuse to be a record of politics. I tell our people, every day, something must be accomplished. Because corruption wins when the government slows down... Defeat corruption by refusing to waste time,” Remulla added.

'Hope'

Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto, for his part, said corruption being so ingrained in the Filipino culture should be addressed, whether by inch-by-inch or drastic moves.

“If you're a politician entering the job with good intentions, it's actually easier to go astray. It is not only true for politicians but for all of us. Whether you're an engineer, a volunteer, a mayor, a counselor, an administrative aide, many times, not all the time, but many times, most of the time, it's easier to go astray rather than to do the right thing,” Sotto said.

“There is still hope, but the first step, I believe, is really acknowledging the problem and trying to look for ways, big or small, that we can reach change to help. When we said no SOP, no kickback, almost immediately, prices of government contracts and projects went down by 20% to 50%. [So] if we all do our part, we will get to a point where corruption in the Philippines won’t be tolerated,” Sotto added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News