Editorial MARCH 1, 2008 issue

Greed: Lesson From The Past

By Ernesto t. solidum

After listening of Jun Lozada’s testimony during the joint Senate investigation (February 11) into the ZTE-NBN deal, one can’t help but be agitated on the extent of corruption in the government service. It is extremely pathetic that one whistleblower could be ganged upon by “hoodlums” out to silence him. Cash given by former Secretary Mike Defensor was P50,000 while Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite was P500,000. Their gestures were ostensibly to bail out the star witness from the mess of facing a Senate inquiry. Out of self pity, he promptly submitted the money in exact amounts to the Blue Ribbon Committee during the hearing.

Greed is to covet things not your own. It is cancerous disease that saps our moral existence. Desire is never satisfied. Moderation of greed cannot even be qualified statement since it is detestable and incompatible with expectation of society. Public office is a public trust, therefore officials must be accountable to the people according to the Civil Service law and the Philippine Constitution.

Psychological findings reveal that man’s dream centers on five things namely: wealth, power, fame, sex and recreational pleasure. Evidently, these are necessary for self-esteem and acceptance but when carried to excess can be disastrous to his well being. World empires set by Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor Nero and King Nebuchadnezzar, among others, crumbled from within because of greed or avarice.

The poignant story in the bible about Achan coveting the beautiful linen mantle from Shinar, treasure chest of gold and silver from among the ruins of battle at Ai brought destruction not only on himself, his family but the entire struggling people of Israel (Joshua 7:1-26). His sin was merely salvaging a few earthly items and hiding them under the floor of his tent. Judgment of the Lord in this incident was swift and fiery-stoning to death and burning of all Achans’ possessions.

Another incident is King Ahabs’ coveting the vineyard of Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-28). Its location was adjacent to the palatial ground but considering that land was inherited from his ancestors, Naboth could not part away his property even if given a generous offer by the King. Ahab together with his scheming wife Jezebel succeeded in acquiring the property by murdering the helpless vinedresser. The Lord was angered and this dastardly act resulted in ultimate death of the royal couple and a curse on the Hebrew nation.

A compelling drama on greed has been documented by Dr. Jose Rizal in his novel, “El Filibusterismo” citing systematic plunder of wealth, dehumanization, injustice and betrayal all done in the guise of religion. Let the darkest side of Philippine history be laid to rest but we treasure the heroic stand of our propagandist and katipuneros who laid their lives in defense of the Motherland.

Greed of corruption is mainly responsible for our basket case economy. At least a third of the P1.2 trillion national budget is channeled to the wrong hands. Malefactors thrive because it is very rare that they are charged and convicted in court. Public perception is that investigation into alleged anomalies in government is one big moro-moro and all noise. Perhaps congressional and senate investigations should instead be shifted into productive pursuits like enactment of laws that generate employment opportunities and modernizing education.

Under closed societies like China, corruption is never handled with kid gloves but an iron fist. A Time Magazine report in the 1990’s mentioned that 200 convicts per month are executed by firing squad in the public square. Main reason is that corruption in China is so pervasive that officials whether high or low are not spared of this organizational dysfunction. Sen. Miriam D. Santiago must have familiar knowledge about sleaze in China’s bureaucracy. During a privilege speech, a few weeks ago, she alluded to China as originator of corruption in the country. It was after angry protests from the local Chinese community that she retracted and apologized for her nasty remarks.

This policy of China can be considered archaic or extreme by Western standards but who can be the best judge anyway? If a bridge collapse as a busload of passengers traversed and several passengers get killed or maimed because of shoddy workmanship is disaster. Naturally the guilt lies not on the bus driver but on the construction crew, the engineer, business contractor and/or bureaucrats who may have taken a lion share of the budget appropriation.

P249,739 Cost of DepEd Computer

Corruption has surfaced recently on theft of two computer sets at Makato Integrated School in the evening of February 17. Record shows that one was donated by Vice Mayor Nelson Tapuz, Jr. of Makato in 2003. Its purchased price was P34,300. The other unit was owned by DepEd, actually received from DepEd Region 6 on June 15, 2007. Acquisition cost was P249,730. Closer investigation revealed that there was no significant difference between the two sets of stolen computers in terms of quality standards. Those in the computer business know that the latest brand could be priced at less than P50,000.

Who benefited from the DepEd scam? Are the suspects prosecuted in court? If not, it is the job of DepEd Regional office to shed light on this highly anomalous business transaction. And why did DepEd Aklan received these computers with exorbitant cost? Are they accessory to the crime?

Putting more teeth on our criminal justice system pursuing corruption cases lie not only on the Ombudsman and Commission on Audit, but NGO’s PO’s and people like Jun Lozada. People empowerment can be instrumental in putting the bad eggs behind bars. Perhaps with greater zeal, we can toss into oblivion a chapter in Philippine history that Magellan called one of the far flung islands in Leyte as Isla de Ladrones. Convincing proof is EDSA People Power I and II. Through peaceful street revolutions two maverick presidents were ousted from office. Moral lesson from the past: Take heed and beware of covetousness for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. (Luke 12:15) Message is simple yet profound in achieving transformation for self, family and society. /MP