SUMMARY:

R.A. 3019 was aimed at curtailing and minimizing the opportunities for official
corruption and maintain a standard of honesty in the public service. It was
intended to further promote morality in public administration.
This bill is aimed against graft & graft is defined as the acquisition of gain or
advantage by dishonest, unfair, or sordid means, especially through the abuse of
one’s position or influence in politics, business, etc .
With this in mind, the principal provisions of this bill are based on the premise
that although it is the right of every person to provide for his future, he should do
so by legitimate means; and by public officials never by the use of power,
authority, or influence attached to his position or office.
High corruption levels severely restrict the efficiency of businesses operating in
the Philippines.
Extensive bribery within the public administration and vague and complex laws
make foreign companies vulnerable to extortion and manipulation by public
officials.
Favoritism and undue influence are widespread in the courts, leading to time-
consuming and unfair dispute resolution, and to an uncertain business
environment.
Corruption plagues the customs administration, and fraud routinely occurs for
companies when filing import and export documentation.
The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act criminalizes active and passive bribery,
extortion, abuse of office and conflicts of interest. Giving gifts, except for gifts of
insignificant value given in line with local customs, is prohibited.
Facilitation payments are not addressed by anti-corruption regulations and
private sector bribery is not criminalized. The legislative framework for fighting
corruption is scattered and is not effectively enforced by the weak and non-
cooperative law enforcement agencies.
CONCLUSION
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.
For within the public lies the true power and future of a society; therefore,
whatever trust the public places in its officials must be respected.
Corruption affects our society with Greed of money, desires. Higher levels of
market and political monopolization. Low levels of democracy, weak civil
participation and low political transparency. Higher levels of bureaucracy and
inefficient administrative structures.
Corruption affects the economy. It reduces foreign direct and domestic
investments, increases inequality and poverty, raises the number of freeloaders
(renters, free-riders) in the economy, distorts and exploits public investments and
reduces public revenues.
Corruption affects development of a country as it slows their overall
development. There is inefficient allocation of resources, the presence of a
shadow economy, and low-quality education and healthcare.
Corruption affect the environment. With embezzlement during the
implementation of environmental programs, grand corruption in the issuance of
permits and licenses for natural resources exploitation, and petty bribery of law
enforcers.
Effects of corruption in education. It threatens the well-being of society because
it erodes social trust and worsens inequality. In primary and secondary education
it affects policy making and planning, school management and procurement, and
teacher conduct. There are a poor education outcomes.
Is R.A 3019 an effective tool in curtailing and minimizing the opportunities for
official corruption and maintain a standard of honesty in the public service? That
is the real question.
The Philippines fared worse in the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of
Transparency International versus 2018.
The country got the same score as El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Eswatini
(formerly Swaziland), and Zambia. With a score of 34, the Philippines also
ranked lower, falling 14 notches and placing 113th out of 180 countries. It was
the country's lowest ranking since 2012.

Anti-Graft Cases
In 2017 the Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed former national police chief Alan
Purisima's dismissal from government. Purisima was dismissed due to the a
supposedly anomalous deal he made with private courier service firm WERFAST
Documentary Agency. The anti-graft body initially had found Purisima and
several others guilty of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and serious
dishonesty.
The plunder case filed in 2001 against former President Joseph Estrada
involves his acceptance of proceeds amounting to P4.098 billion from the illegal
numbers game jueteng and his ownership of huge amounts of money in a bank
account under the name Jose Velarde. Estrada was detained until he was
granted presidential pardon a month later.
Philguarantee executive vice-president Cesar Macuja, vice chairman Rosendo
Bondoc, Ronaldo Zamora (personal lawyer of former president Ferdinand
Marcos) and Vicente Chuidan were charged in 1993 for violating section 3(a) of
Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in the P818 million
($18.77 million) graft case. This case was dismissed in 1998.
There are other cases filed by the anti-graft courts involving multi-billion pesos on
high profile, and less-high profile personalities which are still pending in courts.
Closing
Trust is important in public services.
Trust is both an input to public sector reforms – necessary for the implementation
of reforms – and, at the same time, an outcome of reforms, as they influence
people's and organizations' attitudes and decisions relevant for economic and
social well-being.