A culture of tolerance for corruption
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:41:00 03/27/2008
MAHAR MANGAHAS' March 8 column presented tabulated data on hunger and self-rated poverty in the country during the period 2000-2007. Mangahas said that these poverty indicators are not identical and are separately useful.
The eight-year data show a pattern: as hunger level increases, self-rated poverty level also increases; and when hunger level decreases, self-rated poverty level decreases as well. The exception to this pattern was noted during 2004 (presidential election year) and 2007 (national and local elections year).
The base year 2000 (last year of Pres. Joseph Estrada) had a 10.8-percent hunger level and 56.5-percent self-rated poverty level. The increase in hunger level from 7 percent in 2003 to 11.8 percent in 2004 came with a decrease in self-rated poverty—from 59.5 percent in 2003 to 51.2 percent in 2004; while the increase in hunger level—from 16.7 percent in 2006 to 17.8 percent in 2007 came with a decrease in self-rated poverty from 54.2 percent in 2006 to 49.5 percent in 2007.
It is very apparent that in 2004 and 2007, during which elections that were characterized by massive fraud (as in the case of the "Hello Garci" scandal) and vote-buying were held, a considerable section of poor people, despite the increase in hunger level, felt some degree of temporary relief from the perception of being poor.
Corruption, through electoral fraud and vote-buying that benefit a portion of the poor people, has developed a culture of tolerance. Ateneo Professor Ma. Regina Hechanova, in an article published in the Talk of the Town section of the March 16 Inquirer issue, cited a recent study conducted by Ateneo Psychology students on the attitudes of Filipinos toward graft and corruption. The study revealed that Filipinos see corruption as commonplace or "being in our blood," and is committed out of need or even for the survival of one's family.--EDMUNDO ENDEREZ, via e-mail
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