POSITIVE CORRUPTION

POSITIVE CORRUPTION
By Wilhelmina S. Orozco

In a country that has seen colonialism, martial law and covert martial law under GMA rule, it is very difficult to discern what is a good political move from a bad one. What is good but that which redounds to the best of our people – the alleviation of their poverty, the strengthening of human rights and education for a moral type of living. What is bad but the opposite – all the undemocratic moves that deprive the people of our human rights, that which sink us deeper and deeper into debt, and that which leads most of the people to a life of penury, deprivation, if not prostitution of bodies and values.

The current situation of the present leadership is seesawing between these poles – that which is pulling it to a kind of administration that will be kind to the people, and another, that will make it practical enough – to make hay while in power. It is truly a very difficult situation because it has only existed less than a year and yet people expect much.

Yet gauging the speed with which it has acted in terms of saving our OFW compatriots in the Middle East and Africa, we can see that is truly concerned with the plight of the people. No matter how grievous the statements are of its detractors, it is earning high marks for its sincere acts of moving out the people from war– a case of life-and-death situation which only God perhaps would be able to stop.

How about our compatriots who are about to be executed in the communist People’s Republic of China for drug trafficking? Although the diplomatic officials were able to stay the execution by a few weeks, the result has not been good, as the PRC officials are adamant about executing them. Here we can see what type of leadership PRC has. It does not adhere to a democratic rule but instead imposes its will on every individual, including appropriating the life of any individual who transgresses its human-made laws.

Is it a case of atheism, not believing that there is a higher power who controls all living things and people? Or is it a case of believing that they are the first and last to judge all acts of human beings in their territory? Is that not some form of megalomania?

I believe that the death penalty should be eradicated in all countries, and that the UN has to impose in order to call any country worthy of being a part of it. Any country which chooses to impose death penalty must pay a fine for every execution it makes to be given to the family. Not giving any individual a chance to reform at all and cutting off the life is an act that is not human anymore. The UN is supposed to be an organization of human beings upholding the dignity of every individual, from birth to death.

Worse yet, PRC even decries the use of force against Khadafy who has committed genocide against the Libyans. How can we ever appreciate PRC and all of its products when it condones genocide by its declaration pro-Khadafy? How else could PRC act to contain the murderous intentions and acts of the Libyan colonel if not by using force against his forces?



So here we can see the pressures on any kind of leadership to rise up and be appreciated for all of its moves. It is very difficult to be a leader indeed. It is not enough to cling to some ideals but a need also exists to be pragmatic. But ideals need not be sacrificed for pragmatism to rule.

For example, on the matter of this tit-for-tat – that of offering millions project funds in exchange for a vote to impeach the Ombudswoman, Merceditas Gutierrez. Was there a case of a surrender of ideals for using this move? Or was it just a case of pragmatism to sway the votes in favour of easing out MG so that all other anti-corruption cases could move in the Sandiganbayan?

In political circles which I was lucky to have joined, that move would be called positive corruption of the Congress representatives. It is positive because it has a desired positive result – that of unearthing the tools and corrupt people who have been propping up the system of governance in our country. This is like positive discrimination. We make a positive move to discriminate against men in order to raise the benefits for women. For example, we want equal number of women in the workforce – instead of the men lording it over all the time. So by increasing the number of women, we are decreasing the number of men in the workforce.

Hence positive corruption results just the same to more funds for the people, that is granting that the Congress reps would truly use them to help the people.

I hope that intellectuals in this country would cling to idealism but then to also look at its downside if carried out in black and white terms. In the world of politics, anything, all methods are possible; but in the last analysis, any move should make us ask: will this benefit the people? Let us call it Machiavellian at this time, but then when you and I are up there, wouldn’t you use that knowing you have very little time to institute monumental changes in our society?

I think the past administration was Machiavellian to the point of even eliminating many of its critics, especially the media practitioners, only to sustain its ill-gotten powers. It is time to turn the tables now. Resurrect Machiavelli to remove those corrupt officials including the Ombudswoman. I may be pro-women but not to a woman who is only a woman in women’s clothing. For a true woman does not forget nor turn away from her maternal feelings – and as a political official – that of caring for those who have been oppressed by the corrupt officials and employees whose cases for their removal, sanction and indictment have been languishing on her desk.