Name: Romel Jay F.

Anito Course: POS222

EXAM 1
POS 222

Q#1. Corruption is very rampant in the whole world and each country are really doing their
best to eradicate this economic pandemic. According to Corruption Perception Index of 2021,
Singapore ranks #4, Indonesia ranks #96 and Philippines rank #117.

                Is this an indication comparing the two above mentioned country’s that Philippines
is less corrupt country, is this the result of the fight of Pres. Duterte to eradicate/minimize this
kind of pandemic?

Corruption has been and always be a thorn on the side of democracy. As corruption undo all the
progress made by the nation by the means of economically and politically: having the power to
itabalize all progress made. This in turn causes a conundrum, as corruption spreads the quality of life
in the nation decreases with many developing nations being unable to progress due to corruption or
where in developed nation changes that would be beneficial as a whole are stonewalled by some as it
is unbeneficial to others. or to give some favorable treatment while overlooking or ignoring the greater
issues that plagues all. To quote Pratibha Pati “Corruption is the enemy of progress and good
governance”. Which is why many nations have been cracking done on corruption wherever there is,
fixing their own internal affairs or to help intervene in foreign ones. With many nations such as
demark, New Zealand or sweeten leading the fight against corruption others try to emulate the same
determination on quelling the problem, some are peaceful, others violent. with many figureheads
under scrutiny if their actions are justified, In the end it’s the results that will tell if the end Justifies the
means of it all in the name of fight against corruption.

Dutertes Presidential Administration have been revolving around the promise that the president has
made during his election campaign in 2016, where he promised to the nation that he would seek out
and punish those who are corrupt. As in his presidential inauguration speech back in 2016 the talked
about how corruption is intertwined in every aspect of the nation and society of the Philippines, where
it in all sectors of the government, and in the streets of the nation, from the lowest to the highest exist
corruption; bewitching all aspect of life in the Philippines and to improve the state of the nation
(Rappler.com, 2016) becoming a champion of progress and against corruption in the eyes of his
supporters, fighting off corruption all throughout the nation.

And fight he did, as in the course of the Time on which Dutertes Administration came to office, the
president was swift in his action to combat corruption that held the nation. Actions against corrupt
officials and the war on drugs. As during his Administration Duterte has implemented several policies
and orders to find and pin down suspected corrupt individuals with one being the “firing Spree” of
several based or unscrupulous individuals in the governing body (Carlos, 2021)as well as having the
Department of Justice or DOJ to probe aspects of the government that have been found to be at fault
or are alleged with corruption: stating in his order that the “The Department of Justice (DOJ) will be
able to choose which claims to investigate based on their gravity and implications on the delivery of
public services.”; giving the DOJ the power to investigate anyone for corruption. Going after several
individuals from all sectors of the government and even the Philippine health department Executives,
claiming that they will not be spared despite resigning from office (RANADA, 2020).
But Dutertes administration has been filled with several sandals and controversies over the years,
with many being in his bloody war on drugs, pared with the president’s vulgar language, many have
been scrutinizing the presidents for his actions, claiming that the end does not justify the means, with
one of them being Leila De Lima, one of Dutertes Prominent Critics and alleged drug Conspirator
stating that there is foul play in the extra judicial killing of the war on drugs. and even stating that the
charges against her was falsified to ensure that she is silenced on the matter. (Ferreras & CNN
Philippines, 2021)
over the years there has been many changes in the nations Corruption Percentage Index or CPI have
seen a change of corruption score over the years on which the president has been in office. As from
the time of his seat in presidency in 2016 the Philippines CPI has seen a climb in its score in the first
two (2) years with the nations score changing from 35 to 34 then 36 since 2016 up to 2018. But
overtime there has been a decline in score after that, with the nations score going as low as 33 in
2021, which was the lowest score given to the Philippines since the last 10 years (transparency
International, 2021), it is uncertain of this is the result of the pandemic or something else entirely. And
compared to the Philippines Southeast Asian neighbors such as Singapore who maintained its score
of 85 and Indonesia who has seen an increase scored that is higher compared to the Philippine in the
past 10 years means to say that the nation has seen little change over the years since dutertes
administration came into office.

This is largely debatable as many can argue that the scores are opinionated or does not reflect the
true rate of life in the nation, but regardless of the case the fact remains is that since dutertes
Administration came into seat since 2016 there has been little change in score since then, and though
there are factors that did change in the Philippines such as quality of life and social infrastructure, it
largely remain that the nation is still somewhat corrupt. But with the coming election just around the
corner of 2021 could mean that the nation has a change to change the score of corruption of the
nation ,for better or for worse. Only time will tell

Reference:
Carlos, R. (2021, July 22). Duterte legacy: Fighting corruption in gov’t until his terms ends. Republic
of the Philippines: Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1147925
Ferreras, V. & CNN Philippines. (2021, March 16). TIMELINE: De Lima’s four-year struggle in prison.
CNN Philippines. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/16/TIMELINE-Leila-De-Lima-arrest-prison-.html
RANADA, P. (2020, October 27). Duterte orders DOJ to probe corruption ‘in entire government.’
Rappler. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-orders-doj-
investigate-corruption-entire-philippine-government/
Rappler.com. (2016, June 30). FULL TEXT: President Rodrigo Duterte’s inaugural speech. Rappler.
Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/138132-full-text-president-
rodrigo-duterte-inaugural-speech/

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021/index/sgp
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021/index/idn
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021/index/phl