POSITION PAPER ABOUT POLITICS
GRAFT AND CORRUPTION
JOHN PAULO MUNGCAL
PAUL GERALD ERMITAÑO
CHARLO GANA
VIN EIREN REYES
Corruption is most commonly defined as the misuse or the abuse of public office for private gain
(World Bank, 1997, UNDP, 1999). It can come in various forms and a wide array of illicit
behavior, such as bribery, extortion, fraud, nepotism, graft, speed money, pilferage, theft, and
embezzlement, falsification of records, kickbacks, influence peddling, and campaign
contributions. While corruption is commonly attributed to the public sector, it also exists in other
aspects of governance, such as political parties, private business sector, and NGO (USAID,
Anticorruption Strategy, 2005). UNDP classifies corruption into two types: spontaneous and
institutionalized (or systemic). Spontaneous corruption is usually found in societies observing
strong ethics and morals in public service. Institutionalized corruption, on the other hand, is
found in societies where corrupt behaviors are perennially extensive or pervasive. In these
societies, corruption has become a way of life, a goal, and an outlook towards public office.
Corruption in the government involves three broad layers. First is corruption within the broader
political system. This includes the demands of electoral politics, the extensive use of patronage
in political appointments, and the existence use of “pork barrel” funds. Second, is corruption
within the public sector, which is usually focused on three major problems: spotty performance
of mechanisms for identifying and sanctioning employees engaged in corrupt and illicit behavior,
considerations of pay and employment, and government procurement. Third is corruption within
specific agencies, which involves grand corruption (involving widespread syndicates and
millions of pesos); and petty corruption (which involves smaller amounts of money, such as
grease money to facilitate the delivery of goods and services. (Primer on Corruption: 2005).
Certain types of corruption may not necessarily involve money. It may involve gift giving or
influence-peddling. It can also come in the form of future benefits. With this type of corruption,
the boundary between a corrupt and a non-corrupt behavior becomes quite thin. Take for
instance the act of giving a gift to a public official as a token of appreciation for services done. In
some cultures, this may be ethically condoned. Laws and definitions of corruption, in this regard,
become culturally bound. In the Philippines, Presidential Decree 46 (1972) prohibited gift giving
to public officials and employees. Despite this law, however, gift giving is still practiced as this
habit has been imbedded in social norms.
Questions:
1) What is the writer’s stand to the current issue?
2) How did the writer introduce her stand?
3) How did the writer justify her stand on the issue?
4) Do you agree with the writer’s point of view?
Answers:
1) The writers’ stand to the current issue is that Corruption is one of the biggest
problem of the Philippines when it comes to politics and should be stop in order
for our country to move forward.
2) The writers introduce their stand by defining what corruption is and what is his
opinion about it.
3) The writers justify his stand by telling what is the side effect of corruption and
how it will destroy our country’s economy.
4) Yes, as a Filipino citizen, I want our country to move forward and without
corruption that goal is easy to achieve.
