MANILA, June 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines needs to jail corrupt officials and seize their assets to show it is serious about taking on the endemic corruption that has hobbled its development and investment, a leading campaigner said.
Incoming president Benigno Aquino III should set up an independent anti-corruption body, and public attitudes to those convicted of crimes had to change, Transparency International’s co-founder Michael Hershman told a Makati Business Club forum.
"There is a need to go after those who have robbed and stolen from this country," the former soldier said, pointing to studies showing 20 percent of the government’s budget is lost to corruption.
"They must be held accountable, and this time it has to be done for real. They must go to jail if found guilty of corruption and their assets must be seized and returned to the public treasury."
The Philippines is ranked 139th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption perception index, 28 places behind Indonesia and the lowest of the major Southeast Asian nations.
Concerns about endemic corruption and weak institutions have seen foreign investment in the Philippines lag its neighbours.
Aquino’s clean image and the trust Filipinos have in his family’s name was a factor in his big win in the May election, with the public looking for change after two administrations beset by allegations of corruption.
His nearest rival in the presidential election was Joseph Estrada, who was forced from office in 2001 over corruption allegations. He was convicted of economic plunder in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment, but was then pardoned by his successor, outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
"I don’t understand how someone could be convicted of a crime here, pledged not to run for office and wind up as number 2 candidate for the presidency. I don’t understand that philosophy. You can’t let that happen," Hershman said.
Arroyo has been dogged by allegations of corruption, electoral fraud and rights abuses, which she denies. Aquino, who ran on a campaign of anti-corruption and transparency, has promised to investigate the Arroyo administration.
Ramon del Rosario, who served as finance secretary under President Fidel Ramos, said people should not expect instant and dramatic changes once Aquino takes office next week.
"The prosecution of erring officials will be a significant breakthrough but this will not be enough," del Rosario said.
"This is not a fight only against public sector corruption but also a commitment to clean our own ranks. Thus we can’t count on the Aquino administration to take on the fight alone, we must do our part."
