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PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION (PAGC)

PRESS RELEASE

November 15, 2006

BUSINESS AND OTHER SECTORS PROTEST: TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL UNFAIR TO FILIPINOS

Results of the 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is unfair to the Philippines. This was the reaction issued by various sectors – including leaders of the business industry over the recent results of the study on corruption released by Transparency International (TI) last 6 November 2006.  

CPI results reaped protests as different sectors censured the TI study for disregarding the intensified efforts that the country has been exerting to combat graft and corruption. The same groups further asserted that it is not fair for the Philippines to be compared to communist countries like Cuba where all information is controlled by the government as a means to 'manage' their image in the international community. Cuba ranked 66 in the survey while China, where corruption is also a grave concern figured at 70 ^th place.

"As a Filipino, I cannot accept the Philippines' 2.5 score and 121^st ranking in the survey. We are not being remiss in our task to fight graft and corruption, and we all know through discernible results that our efforts have been paying off. We should not be affected by studies like CPI which is largely based on perceptions." Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) Chair Constancia de Guzman strongly declared in objection to the CPI results.

Chairman de Guzman further disputed the accuracy of the CPI results, questioning the validity of TI's survey methodology. In line with this, PAGC sent a letter to TI Chairperson Hugette Labelle who is based in Berlin to formally clarify the details of the survey. She also invited TI to look into the country's anti-corruption reforms and measures for a more considered judgment of the efforts and performance of agencies tasked to fight corruption like PAGC.

Business industry leaders likewise expressed their disappointment over the survey. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Donald Dee, Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI) President Francis Chua, and Dr. Sergio Ortiz, President of Philippine Export Confederation of the Philippines, jointly reiterated that CPI's reporting tends to gloss over the efforts of the business sector to move the economy forward.

PCCI President Donald Dee further conveyed his apprehension that studies like CPI might affect the image of the Philippines and the business sectors' efforts to build up the economy might loose headway, putting their efforts to naught.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chua pointed out that not one of their members was consulted or interviewed in any surveys, and called on Filipinos to be more prudent in heeding information from such sources.

TI was also censured by Dr. Ortiz who questioned the credibility of its respondents, whose personal knowledge about the Philippines might be limited. Moreover, he advised that TI should have more a detailed and precise methodology in measuring corruption; otherwise, the organization should discontinue conducting such survey.

Development Academy of the Philippines President Antonio Kalaw likewise stood up for the efforts being expended by different sectors and agencies in the country to combat corruption, calling attention to the United States' acknowledgment of the government's anti-corruption efforts through inclusion of the Philippines in its Millennium Challenge Account. #  

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