DOF cracks down on corruption

MANILA, Philippines — In line with the Duterte administration’s efforts against corruption, the Department of Finance (DOF) said over the weekend it is leading the crackdown against “state capture,” and is coordinating with regulators to identify these schemes.

In a message aired during the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s (PACC) program on dzRJ, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez described state capture as one of the worst forms of corruption in government.

The scheme, he said, involved private individuals who influence policy-making and undermine public interest for their own benefit.

“Capturers of the state operate discreetly, in order to lull the ordinary Filipino into thinking that whatever project they are pushing for will ultimately redound to the benefit of the public,” Dominguez said.

“These capturers are enterprising private individuals who use every resource at their disposal, including the media and political figures. They employ a carrot-and-stick approach to influence politicians. Those who willingly accept grease money are paid off while those who refuse are threatened with litigation.”

“These grafters and influence peddlers play the long-game nurturing a symbiotic relationship with public officers complicit with the capturers and bartering continued political support from powerful individuals. These are done in exchange for wielding government power for a period to last beyond one presidential term,” he said.

In most cases, Dominguez said these private individuals infiltrate the bureaucracy through their chosen appointees in regulatory bodies and implementing agencies, leading to lopsided contracts and disadvantageous transactions.

“On this premise, we have extensively shared our knowledge on the matter with the regulators and the key government officials. This will help government identify such manipulative schemes perpetuated by private individuals and stop them in their tracks,” Dominguez said.

Aside from these initiatives, the finance chief said the DOF, through the Revenue Integrity Protection Service, has been conducting lifestyle checks on its employees.

Since President Duterte took office in 2016, the RIPS has initiated investigations against 403 personnel of the DOF and its attached agencies. Administrative and criminal cases have also been filed against 60 public officers, 14 of which have been dismissed from the service.

The DOF has also launched the “Sumbong” page on its website, which allows the public to submit information against suspected corrupt officials in the DOF and its attached agencies.

Dominguez said the DOF also is advocating for the simplification of procedures and adoption of digital technologies to enhance transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption.

“Public officials and employees should be held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability. Rest assured, the Department of Finance will always be at the forefront of the institution of necessary reforms to achieve the President’s goals of honest and efficient governance,” Dominguez said.