We note Transparency International’s Government Defence Integrity Index where the Philippines received a “C” rating, or a “modest” institutional resilience to corruption rating — similar to the rating of more than 20 countries that include Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, among others.

While there are areas mentioned by Transparency International that need improvement, such as policymaking and financial management, which the defense and security sector will review and consider to better their mechanisms, the civil society organization acknowledged that corruption risk mitigation in the Philippines is relatively robust in military operations.

We credit this to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s zero tolerance against allegations of official malfeasance. PRRD relieved numerous high-ranking military officials over alleged corruption activities taking place at a military hospital in 2018. In his weekly Talk to the People Address from November 2020 to June 2021, the President announced the dismissal of 261 and suspension of 187 government officials and employees.

In addition, we have a Defense System of Management which institutionalizes the judicious and efficient use of resources in our defense acquisitions to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement process. The President likewise raised the level of professionalism of our AFP personnel by promoting the welfare of our troops and ensuring they can focus on fulfilling their mandate of protecting the Filipino people.

This relentless drive to have a clean, strong and responsive government will continue until the remainder of the President’s term.