Normalizing corruption

By Artchil B. Fernandez

“You cannot stop corruption. Because as I keep reminding everyone, corruption is not a Filipino condition, it is a human condition.” This is Bongbong Marcos’ take on corruption.  He expressed his view in an interview aired this week at the government’s PTV-4. Instead of attending the Commission on Elections (Comelec) organized presidential debate this week, he appeared at the government television station.

Bongbong Marcos’ position on corruption is a direct assault on the collective morality of Filipino society. Framing corruption as a “human condition” is normalizing it, making stealing public funds a normal human act. In effect, the dictator’s son is saying “if we rob the Filipino people, plunder the national coffer, we are just being human.”

“Being human” or “we are just human” is criminals and law breakers’ way of justifying their crimes. “Committing crimes or breaking laws is part of being human” their argument goes to rationalize their wrongdoings.

Human nature is never an excuse or an unacceptable defense for a crime. All humans make mistakes since nobody is perfect but not all humans commit crimes. People err but crime is not done by all humans. Only lawbreakers or those who think they are above or beyond the law carry out criminal acts.

Marcos junior’s reasoning on corruption is not only faulty logic but a shameless attempt to normalize and naturalize public officials’ theft of people’s money. Corruption is a crime and it is not something natural or normal. Not all public officials are corrupt contrary to Bongbong Marcos’ belief. There are officials who are honest.

It is understandable why the dictator’s son wanted to normalize corruption and argue that it is part of being human. His family has stolen $10 billion from the Filipino people during the twenty-year conjugal dictatorship of his parents.

The corruption of the Marcos family is an established fact. The Philippine Supreme Court ruled on July 15, 2003 that the disputed US$ 627,608,544.95 inclusive of interest or P 25 billion Marcos asset is ill-gotten. The contested money is found in Swiss banks where the Marcoses’ have hidden some of their stolen wealth. This is what the High Court said on the case.

“The assets acquired by the Marcoses and kept in these deposits are manifestly disproportionate to their salaries as government officials. The only known lawful income of the Marcos Couple from 1966 to 1985 was determined in the sum of US$304,372.43 – the equivalent of P2,319,583.33 at the time. It is keen to note that neither Ferdinand nor Imelda filed any Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SAL) as required by law, from which their net worth could be determined.”

Imelda Marcos, the other half of the conjugal dictatorship was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of seven counts of graft. The case is on the seven Swiss foundations established by the Marcoses as dummies for their hidden wealth. “Wherefore, premises considered, this Court finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt…,” the 5^th Division of the anti-graft court decision declared.  Imelda Marcos was sentenced to prison for 6 years and 1 month to 11 years for each case.

These cases alone are more than enough to prove that the Marcoses robbed the Filipino people. The wealth that the Marcoses are enjoying and flaunting is stolen public funds, the fruit of corruption.

Having been found guilty of corruption, Bongbong Marcos is trying to rationalize and justify the high crime of his family by asserting corruption is a “human condition.” He is saying that what they did, plundering the national treasury is part of being human.

Normalization of corruption will be brought to greater heights if the greatest tragedy that will befall the land will happen with the return of the Marcoses in Malacañang. Public officials following Marcos junior’s logic will unabashedly commit corruption claiming it is part of being human.

The attempt of Bongbong Marcos to naturalize corruption is dangerous. It will destroy the moral fabric of Filipino society. If corruption is normalized under the regime of thieves, other crimes will also be normalized next.

Cheating in all transactions for example will be justified using Marcos junior’s thinking it is part of the “human condition.” A student caught cheating in exams or plagiarism will say s/he is just being human. A spouse cheating on his/her partner will use the same alibi.

What will happen to Filipino society if people adopt the reasoning of Bongbong Marcos? Any wrongdoing, any crime will be justified as part of being human. The destruction of the moral values of Filipinos will likely happen once the thinking of the dictator’s son becomes dominant.

It is expected Bongbong Marcos will push for the naturalization of corruption and other misdeeds once he captures the presidency. Another dark and sinister chapter in Philippine history will begin.

The dictator’s son is wrong. Corruption is not a human condition. Not all public officials steal public funds. While humans have the propensity to commit crimes, they also have the capacity to do good things. A leader must not and never excuse corruption but condemn it. Those aspiring for the highest post in the land must cultivate and encourage honesty and integrity in public service instead of providing flimsy justification for sleaze. Marcos junior is mistaken when he said corruption which is a crime is a human condition. Making mistake is a human condition but not all mistake is a crime otherwise the whole of humanity is in jail right now. Not all mistakes are crimes but all crimes are mistakes.