IN recent weeks, there appear to be a welling up of commentaries, particularly on social media, about corruption in our government. There seems to be a growing perception that this disastrous practice is getting worse in terms of both its widening spread and the increasing scale of the amounts involved. This observation aroused an interest in me to analyze and try to portray in an understandable way the broad effects of corruption in the economy.
Indeed, corruption in government has been prevalent in the Philippines for so long and appears to continue undiminished and in the foreseeable future. I will not consider, though, that this lamentable practice is a part of Philippine culture, as others would do, for the simple reason that it is practiced by only a "few." I mean "few" in relation to the number of perpetrators as compared to the entire Philippine population. Corruption is actually a crime that regrettably goes generally unpunished. I recognize, though, what others may claim that because a much greater part of the Philippine population tolerates this criminal act makes the practice of corruption a part of Philippine culture. I would agree if such toleration is unforced. But it is not. The perpetrators hold considerable power. This power exudes intimidation and threat of retribution that greatly inhibits concerned but unorganized citizens from taking appropriate action to challenge the perpetrators.
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