Corruption won’t stop unless gov’t overturned ‘completely’

MANILA – The only way to eradicate corruption is to overturn the government completely, President Rodrigo Duterte said in his sixth and final state of the nation address (SONA) on Monday.

Duterte described government-wide corruption as “endemic”, acknowledging that he has yet to completely rid the government of dishonest officials and workers.

“Corruption, it’s endemic in government. You cannot stop corruption. Nobody can stop corruption unless you overturn the government completely,” he said.

He said his successor could only change the system if he or she would fire “everybody” in government by declaring martial law.

“If I were the next president if you think there’s really a need for you to change everybody in the system, then you declare martial law and fire everybody and allow the new generation to come in to work for the government,” he said.

Despite shortcomings in the fight against corruption, Duterte said his administration was able to make significant strides in promoting transparency and accountability in government.

“We also issued the order on Freedom of Information [that] opens up the records, transactions, decisions and issuances of all government agencies. In relation to this, we also have the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission that is tasked to run after corrupt and erring government officials and bring them to justice,” he said.

In several speeches, Duterte admitted that corruption could not be solved overnight.

However, he touted how the government achieved progress in terminating and dismissing corrupt government officials and workers.

In 2020, he created a mega task force to probe government-wide corruption particularly in the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Bureau of Customs.

The Duterte administration, in 2016, also launched a 24/7 national public service hotline to allow the public to report poor delivery of services and corrupt practices in government agencies.

The hotline also provides access to national and local emergency service providers.