Bringing Corruption to an End in the Philippines

The 1987 Constitution Article 11

2008-02-15T05:18:00.000-08:00

ARTICLE 11
ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS

Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.

Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.

Section 3. (1) The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.

(2) A verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof, which shall be included in the Order of Business within ten session days, and referred to the proper Committee within three session days thereafter. The Committee, after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House within sixty session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution. The resolution shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten session days from receipt thereof.

(3) A vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House shall be necessary either to affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or override its contrary resolution. The vote of each Member shall be recorded.

(4) In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.

(5) No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.

(6) The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not vote. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.

(7) Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office under the Republic of the Philippines, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to prosecution, trial and punishment according to law.

(8) The Congress shall promulgate its rules on impeachment to effectively carry out the purpose of this section.

Section 4. The present anti-graft court known as the Sandiganbayan shall continue to function and exercise its jurisdiction as now or hereafter may be provided by law.

Section 5. There is hereby created the independent Office of the Ombudsman, composed of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan, one overall Deputy and at least one Deputy each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A separate Deputy for the military establishment may likewise be appointed.

Section 6. The officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman, other than the Deputies, shall be appointed by the Ombudsman according to the Civil Service Law.

Section 7. The existing Tanodbayan shall hereafter be known as the Office of the Special Prosecutor. It shall continue to function exercise its powers as now or hereafter may be provided by law, except those conferred on the Office of the Ombudsman created under this Constitution.

Section 8. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, and at the time of their appointment, at least forty years old, or recognized probity and independence, and members of the Philippine Bar, and must not have been candidates for any elective office in the immediately preceding election. The Ombudsman must have for ten years or more been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines.

During their tenure, they shall be subject to the same disqualifications and prohibitions as provided for in Section 2 of Article 1X-A of this Constitution.

Section 9. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least six nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council, and from a list of three nominees for every vacancy thereafter. Such appointments shall require no confirmation. All vacancies shall be filled within three months after they occur.

Section 10. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall have the rank of Chairman and Members, respectively, of the Constitutional Commissions, and they shall receive the same salary, which shall not be decreased during their term of office.

Section 11. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall serve for a term of seven years without reappointment. They shall not be qualified to run for any office in the election immediately succeeding their cessation from office.

Section 12. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, as protectors of the people, shall act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and shall, in appropriate cases, notify the complainants of the action taken and the result thereof.

Section 13. The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the following powers, functions, and duties:

(1) Investigate on its own, or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient.

(2) Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any public official or employee of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as of any government-owned or controlled corporation with original charter, to perform and expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent, and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties.

(3) Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public official or employee at fault, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution, and ensure compliance therewith.

(4) Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action.

(5) Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities, and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents.

(6) Publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant and with due prudence.

(7) Determine the causes of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption in the Government and make recommendations for their elimination and the observance of high standards of ethics and efficiency.

(8) Promulgate its rules of procedure and exercise such other powers or perform such functions or duties as may be provided by law.

Section 14. The Office of the Ombudsman shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Its approved annual appropriations shall be automatically and regularly released.

Section 15. The right of the State to recover properties unlawfully acquired by public officials or employees, from them or from their nominees or transferees, shall not be barred by prescription, laches, or estoppel.

Section 16. No loan, guaranty, or other form of financial accommodation for any business purpose may be granted, directly or indirectly, by any government-owned or controlled bank or financial institution to the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Commissions, the Ombudsman, or to any firm or entity in which they have controlling interest, during their tenure.

Section 17. A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth. In the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices, and officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law.

Section 18. Public officers and employees owe the State and this Constitution allegiance at all times, and any public officer or employee who seeks to change his citizenship or acquire the status of an immigrant of another country during his tenure shall be dealt with by law.

The POWER of "little things"

2008-01-24T06:02:00.001-08:00

The POWER of "little things"

Can we change our country by improving on the "little things"?

Malcolm Gladwell says yes.

In his book "The Tipping Point", Gladwell cited the high rate of criminality in New York City from 1960s to 1990s. At that time, New York was already the finance capital of the world. But during that period, around 650,000 serious crimes and murders were committed yearly in that city. No one could solve the problem.

Then 2 police consultants experimented on making improvement in New York City's subway train system, used by almost 97% of New Yorkers, but where conditions then were horrible. The waiting platforms were poorly lit and damp, while the walls were covered with all kind of graffiti. The trains themselves were filthy, the floors littered with trash and were often late.

First, they removed all the graffiti, and painted clean the platforms and the trains. Then they posted plain-clothes policemen in all stations to arrest those who did not pay train tokens. In a few years, criminality in New York City declined sharply by 65%. Two little things - removal of graffiti and presence of policemen. But they changed the culture and the face of New Yorkers.

Gladwell says "do not underestimate the power of little things." They can spur a revolution.

If "little things" can change a city, they can change a country.

"Life is made up of little things." Greatness follows if we learn to be great in little things," says Charles Simmons.

Because of his book, Gladwell has been cited as one of the World's 100 influential People by TIME Magazine this year. And his book is changing the mindsets of people around the world.

Respond to our Political and Economic Crisis

2008-01-24T05:40:00.000-08:00

Christianity Between Sundays

Answers to Questions on Christian Living

by, William B. Girao

Part 2:

How should My Faith in God Affect the Way I Live?

Chapter 17

(pgs. 152 – 155)

How do we, as Christian, Respond to our

Political and Economic Crisis?[1]

In Less the fifteen years from our wonderful deliverance from cruel Martial Law, our country was again in crisis — a political, economic and moral meltdown. It seems that crisis is a continually recurring national experience. How do we, as followers of Christ, respond to our national problem?

First, never despair; always be filled with hope. Don’t be cynical. Don’t say that nothing good would ever come out of this, or that the Filipino never learns. Do not conclude that the Philippines is a hopeless situation.

Yes, we are in a very difficult situation. But the Lord is merciful and gracious. Wicked men will not have the last laugh (Psalm 2:4). Righteousness and truth will triumph (Nahum 1:2, 3).

At the center of the universe is a throne, not a void; and the throne is not empty. Someone is seated on the throne. And the one sitting there is not a man; and not the devil. On the throne is God — in all His holiness, glory, power and majesty (Isaiah 6:1; Revelation 4:2ff). He is in control of all things. Nothing happens by chance. Nothing ever gets out of hand. His purpose will prevail; and will never be frustrated (Daniel 4:35). He is the one who puts kings on their thrones; and removes them from power (Isaiah 40:23, 24). Empires rise and fall according to his will (Acts 17:26). Even the wickedness of men fulfills His purposes (Acts 4:27, 28).

However bleak our situation may be, it is never hopeless. God is on His throne. The wicked will be destroyed; righteousness and truth will triumph. God is in sovereign control.

Second, sow a mustard seed. Take every opportunity to do a good deed; and even in the most bleak of situations, faithfully fulfill your duty.

Our first and primary duty is to pray for our land and people. Let us identify with our people — confessing our people’s sins as if these were our own (Daniel 9:5, 6). Intercede in prayer for our land. One of the greatest surprises for us in eternity will be to discover that we did much more good while we were on our knees than when we were on our feet.

Continue to faithfully fulfill whatever your present responsibilities may be. Uphold God’s standards of righteousness wherever you are. Man your post; help prevent chaos; help stabilize society. Every good deed you do, in Jesus’ name, however small it may be in the eyes of men, is a mustard seed dropped into the ground. In time it will germinate and grow into a giant tree in God’s kingdom (Matthew 13:31, 32).

A mustard seed: Extend a helping hand to someone; give generously and sacrificially to those in need. Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle. You could never tell what great things the Lord will do through you. Even your seemingly small acts of obedience to Him where He has stationed you right now will have eternal results.

We intercede in prayers for our land and people; we faithfully fulfill whatever tasks we have on hand; and then we join hands with other men of goodwill in the common effort to try to change our nation’s situation for good.

Join peaceful rallies to express our rightful grievances; write letters to the editors of newspapers; use whatever medium of mass communication at our disposal to express our condemnation of the massive corrupt practices and immortality that are going on and give positive suggestions to address the problem; go out and vote and campaign for the best candidates when there are elections.

But let us do all these as private citizens joining hands with other men of good conscience; not as a local church or a denomination or as a Christian organization.

Third and finally, don’t fly away: stay, identify and suffer with our people in their dark hour and time of need. Do not leave the Philippines; do not emigrate to the US; don’t go away. If we really love our land and people, as we say we do, then, our immediate response, when things are at their worst, should not be to reject the Philippines and go look for greener pastures.

The Lord was willing to withhold judgment over Sodom and Gomorrah if there were only but ten righteous men in the city, as Abraham pleaded in prayer (Genesis 18:32). But alas! There was only one righteous man. And even Lot was sullied in his righteousness. And so Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

The lives of the righteous are precious in God’s sight. God, in His grace and mer4cy, withholds judgment over a place for the sake of those who trust Him in that place. Our presence is reason enough for the Lord not to abandon our land and people.

For us Christians to leave the Philippines is to expose our people to destruction. But by God’s grace, our mere presence here helps preserve this our beloved land. If our first choice, given the opportunity, is to abandon our land, who then would be left to serve as salt and light for our exasperating people?

Reforming the Country One Island at a Time

2008-01-24T04:21:00.000-08:00

"It is enough for good people to do nothing,
for evil people to succeed."

This Site is being put together to hopefully in weeks, months to even in years time we could see a change for the better come about over here in the Philippines.
Everything begins in a slow process. It is just a spark to form a flame and once the flame has been ignited it become very hard to put it out.
Just as Alexander L. Lacson shares in a comment "...the answer is in us as a people, that hope is in us as a people." For if changes are ever to be made, which the people are wanting to see come about, we need to stop putting all our trust in government and start working together as people. For, just as one old quote says it well: "It is not the government that makes the people but it is the people who makes their government."
So, as you brows through this site, by reading testimonies, encouragements and so forth, please become a part in helping to make a difference in the Philippines and hopefully even soon to the whole world,
Mr. Lacson makes it easy by giving you "12 Little Things" and do not ever think you do not have time for we all have time to do "the little things" in life.
With Knowledge Comes Power
Start learning the laws the country is said to hold
so we can stop the corruption by keeping one another accountable.