Reading 6

Grafts in the Government and Suggested Preventions 1

Irregularities in the conduct of the government have always been and still is, one of the most despicable
curses recorded in history. Historians and political scientists tell us that they exist in all countries of the
world, irrespective of the size of the country and its form of government. It is said to be so deep – rooted
in our political system that some people have gone to the extent of asserting that it is impossible to
prevent the occurrence of such evils. They say that we are idealistic because human nature is such that
the inborn selfishness of man would scarcely allow this to be achieved. We admit that the average human
nature is selfish and covetous. But it is in recognitions of this truth that we endeavor to work out means
and methods by which the wretchedness of man may be made difficult of manifestation; for were man
not essentially selfish, anomalies would not occur and there would be no problem of the character and
magnitude with which we are now confronted. We therefore, disagree with those persons when they
say that such evils cannot be prevented or minimized. Those persons entertain a very pessimistic view –
so passive, so inspired that should that stand be followed by the whole populace, I fear that our
government will eventually be shattered by the venality which has ever been the source of the downfall
and decay of past governments – and woe be unto him who believes that the demoralized Republic of
ancient Rome has gone never to find an expression and a counterpart in the democracy of modern times.
Gone were the days of Republican Rome; gone were the days when principles were sacrificed for the
base and sordid motives of dishonest men. But should history should repeat itself in this wise, the result
would be hopelessly deplorable. Thus, while men and governments cannot live on principles alone, noble
principles should always guide them along the path of success.

It is not for us to stand idly and fold our arms. It is for us rather to work out something by which
such evils may be checked or minimized. While it is true that these evils cannot be completely eradicated
and wiped out, there is no reason why they may not be considerably reduced. I want this to be clear; we
are not proposing the complete and immediate obliteration and effacement of the evil and the graft in
the government. No, we would be impractical if we try to do so. What we propose to do, I repeat, is to
minimize the graft by doing all we can to make it difficult for dishonest and corrupt officials to defraud,
corrupt and mal administer our government. This is what we ought to do if we expect to save pour
country from the sad fate that befell the Roman republic some 2,000 years ago.

But how are we going to prevent the occurrence of graft? How can we discourage dishonest
officials from committing them? A have thought of a new proposals which I think will be worthwhile

1
JOSE P. LAUREL: ON POLITY, ECONOMY AND EDUCATION Edited with an Introduction by: CLEMEN C. AQUINO;
pp. 104 – 107
materializing. I do not claim that they will entirely solve the problem confronting us, but I am sure that
something can be gained by following them.

In the first place, proper political education should be administered to the people. Such education
can be undertaken by schools and colleges, by the press, by the civil societies and other similar agencies
of instruction. The careful guidance of the youth is instrumental in building up of a virtuous and
honorable citizenry in a good, clean government. The puissant doctrine that a public office is a public
thrust should be deeply impressed upon the people – a doctrine which should always be the paramount
and controlling consideration in holding a public office. They should be taught that a public office is not
a private property of its holder (as some people are wont to believe) to be employed or used by him as
an instrument of personal advantage. It is not to be exploited for the benefit of a single individual family
or class. It is rather a responsibility entrusted to and shouldered by him to be used for the good of the
people whom he should serve. It symbolizes and represents the people’s firm belief and confidence in
his integrity. But while it leaves room for exploitation, for miscarriage of the trust, that trust must not be
violated. It must not be polluted and prostituted by self – seeking motives. It must be keep inviolate. This
proposal, of course, looks for the future. It visions the day when we may rest contented that our
government is run by dependable and trust - worthy public servants. In this connection the National
Teachers College, whose foundation we are now celebrating, is an agency for the dissemination of proper
education. The very ideals of the college, the principles upon which it has been founded, all look to the
cultivation of civic spirit among our youth, to whom we look for wise and honest guidance of our
government in the future.

In the second place, there should be more careful selection of employees and officers of the
government. That character of candidates for the office should be properly considered. Not only they be
academically or intellectually prepared but they should be morally fit; the government should not be
prostituted by drafting into it men who cannot be trusted; they must be upright and trustworthy. Success
in governmental administrations depends a great deal upon the character and quality of officials charged
with the management of public affairs. During the Spanish regime, it is admitted that the intention of
the home government were good and the laws extended in the Philippines were just and humane. But
the officials sent here were dishonest and corrupt, desirous of promoting only their personal, selfish
ends, with the result that the interests of the people were disregarded and ignored. Men actuated by
self- interest and living chiefly to promote their personal profit and pleasure will never be the desirable
guardians of the public interest. We may have a model form of government which shall be the envy of
other nations, but unless the government is run by men who can be trusted and relied upon for the
promotion of the general welfare, the government will be of little value, not to say useless. Indeed I
would prefer to live under a government, however simple its structure and form may be, provided that
it is run by honest and efficient men.

In the third place, there should be strict supervision and surveillance of employees. Periodic
inspection of their accounts as well as the accounts of each and every office should be made. The
expenses of all government offices must be carefully checked and inspected periodically to admit of little
or no loopholes. In this way, anomalies will greatly prevented and dishonest officials discouraged from
committing them.

In the fourth place, stringent laws must be passed, imposing higher penalties to dishonest officials.
This will bring fear among such officials who would be discouraged from making false moves that may
end in a long term behind prison bars. The present laws are not strict enough to discourage dishonest
public officials from defrauding the government. I am sure that a great deal can be done towards the
accomplishment of our aim if only the Philippine legislature will pass more stringent penal laws to the
effect. Present penal laws leave loopholes that enable dishonest officials to “get around the law” and
thus evade punishment. If these loopholes are plastered with the manifolds lids of the Legislature in the
form of strict and stringent laws, difficulty will be encountered by the “dupers of the public trust”.

I would not suggest the granting of the increased salaries and compensations especially at the
present state of world – wide economic, depression. I know that some of our government officials are
already receiving large and double salaries for their work in comparison with similar officers performing
work of the same nature or kind in other countries. Furthermore, we should remember that while
virtuous men deserve high salaries, salaries do not make the men virtuous.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my desire to cleanse our government but freeing it from
clutches of dishonest trustees of the public interest. I am sure that I am expressing the sentiment of all
of you, nay, of the whole nation, when I say that these evils must be prevented if we really desire to have
a good and clean government. We are not intending to create a perfect government. No perfect
government has yet appeared or will ever appear. What we want to do is create a government that will
be able to ensure and protect the best interests of the Filipino people. Indeed, as John Dewey has said,
“No perfection as the final goal, but the ever - enduring process of perfecting, maturing, refining is the
aim in living.” (Human Nature and Conduct, p. 303)