The country is “corrupt to the core,” President Duterte said Tuesday as he vowed to continue to clean up the bureaucracy.
The President admitted that corruption and red tape were rampant in some government offices, lamenting instances of alleged bribery in exchange for faster public service.
“Ngayon, kung sinabihan – sabihin mo, ma-control ko ba ang corruption sa lahat, ito sasabihin ko sa ‘yo: Ang Pilipinas is corrupt to the core,” he said during the administration party PDP-Laban campaign rally in Malabon City.
“Ibang-ibang mesa ‘yan diyan sa city hall o kaya nasa national. Pagka dumaan ‘yang papel diyan, pera ‘yan. Eh ilang mesa ‘yan?” he added.
He bewailed that some people are forced to pay bribes to facilitate the processing of the application for permits. He noted that the release of business permits has been delayed for two to three months in Manila.
“Hindi ko maintindihan. Pabalik nang balik ang tao, balik nang balik. Kasi kung hindi ka talaga maglabas ng pera, hindi lalabas ‘yung papel,” he said.
With corruption still prevalent in the bureaucracy, the President renewed his resolve to weed out erring public servants.
He warned anew State officials and workers not to get involved with any irregularity. He said he has previously dismissed some officials, including allies, who have been implicated in alleged corruption.
“Pinaka-matindi corruption sa mababa. Wala na kayong problema dito sa taas, sa Executive department, ‘yung mga Gabinete,” he said. “Sundan lang ninyo ako para malaman ninyo na talagang ‘yang corruption hintuin ko ‘yan,” Duterte said.
He also urged the public to be vigilant against corruption, asking them to report to his office any complaint on irregularity. He said he was ready to take action to address such complaint any time of the day.
“Sinabi ko sa mga tao, huwag kayong pumayag na kurakutin kayo. ‘Pag may ipagawa ka, tapos hiningian ka, sampalin mo,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)