It’s
like being slapped in the face.
This
was President Benigno Aquino III’s angry reaction to the continuing
corruption at the Bureau of Customs despite measures put in place by
former Commissioner Angelito Alvarez and the latter’s successor,
Ruffino Biazon.
Apologizing
early on to those who might be offended by what he was about to
say, the President expressed his displeasure at the horror
stories of corruption involving the bureau and its personnel, in his
speech at the agency’s 110th anniversary celebration Monday.
The
President cited several cases, including that of the Porsche-driving
Customs clerk who is now facing administrative charges for firing a
gun at two students and beating them up following a traffic
altercation.
“It’s
a kind of mentality that he’s better than the rest, isn’t it,’’
the Chief Executive said in his speech which, he pointed out, he had
rewritten at the last minute so he could say his piece.
Malacañang
has ordered the Customs clerk’s dismissal as a result of the
incident.
Mr.
Aquino also cited the case of someone he knew whose aide ended up
waiting for almost an entire day for the release of a package at the
Post Office just because he was not able to treat the employees there
to merienda (snacks).
“The
merienda even had a price—P2,500,’’ Mr. Aquino said,
adding that the aide ended up waiting for the package to be released
at 3 p.m. even though he got there at 9 a.m.
The
President also mentioned someone whom he said had bragged that his
watch was worth millions of pesos. When this person was asked what
his job was, he answered that he was “one of the biggest rice and
sugar smugglers in the country.’’
Mr.
Aquino said that these kinds of stories were a slap to his
face.
“I
can take being slapped for the sake of the country but what I find
unacceptable is for the needs of the people to be slapped. They
(corrupt) trample on the people who gave them the opportunity to
serve them. That can’t be,” he said.
The
President appealed to the customs bureau to help fix the system as he
vowed to fix the state it was in.
Reflection
Paper: Graft and Corruption
The news stated the
deeds acted by the President Aquino in order to fight graft and
corruption that existed in Philippines through passing years. It is
good to know the actions he created because graft and corruption can
really lead our economy into crisis. For example, if the public taxes
have been kept by some authorities, what does the government used in
building establishment like hospitals that can increase employment
rate in Philippines? Apparently, we will surely experiencing
financial crisis o the point that President Aquino may again, borrow
money from the World Bank and this will surely depressed our economy.
Fighting
graft and corruption is really a nice way to enhance the recent
situation of our economy; but, we should bear in mind that this is
not the only aspect that we must focus. It is also important to
provide attention to other factor that could lead to economic crisis
itself. President Aquino must learn how to use those few trusted
people in the government and disseminate them the list of tasks so
everyone is moving for the economic progress. Instead of focusing
into a trial wherein corrupt politician needs to be sentenced, why
not starting to talk with rich people as well as those well known
foreign business icons to invest further here in Philippines. It is
also good to enhance the tourism in Philippines since natural
resources are better source of economy. This income and taxes should
be used properly and in order to do it, government must have a
reliable accounting which follows the principle of zero – based
budgeting.
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