RP under Noy fails to shed corrupt image — TI poll

INDONESIA, VIETNAM RANKED CLEANER IN CPI SURVEY

The Philippines under President Aquino and his straight path mantra failed to breach perceptions of being among the most corrupt country in the region, landing 129th among 182 countries on the list, the worst among key Asian economies and 25th of 35 countries in the Asia-Pacific, the latest of the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) showed.

While the country improved in its ranking to 129th this year from last year’s 134th and its score to 2.6 out of a perfectly clean 10 from 2.4 a year ago, the Philippines is dead last among its peers in the region compared with the fifth in the TI ranking Singapore, 60th Malaysia, 80th Thailand, 100th Indonesia and 112th Vietnam.

The TI described its annual ranking as being based on how corrupt the countries’ public sector is perceived to be and was drawn from a composite index, a combination of polls, drawing on corruption-related data collected by a variety of reputable institutions.

“The CPI reflects the views of observers from around the world, including experts living and working in the countries or territories evaluated,” according to the TI.

The score given to the Philippines in the latest survey was the best since the 2004 and 2002 survey under the presidency of Gloria Arroyo when a 2.6

grade was given but still paled to the 3.6 and 3.3 scores the country got in 1999 and 1998 respectively during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.

The country is bunched with Armenia, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Syria which all have a 2.6 score.

TI stated that two-thirds of ranked countries scored less than the median 5 with New Zealand ranking first, followed by Finland and Denmark.

Somalia and North Korea (included in the index for the first time), were perceived as the most corrupt countries.

“2011 saw the movement for greater transparency take on irresistible momentum, as citizens around the world demand accountability from their governments. High-scoring countries show that over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sustained, be successful and benefit their people,” Transparency International managing director Cobus de Swardt said.

Most Arab Spring countries rank in the lower half of the index, scoring below 4. Before the Arab Spring, a Transparency International report on the region warned that nepotism, bribery and patronage were so deeply engrained in daily life that even existing anti-corruption laws had little impact.

Eurozone countries suffering debt crises, partly because of public authorities’ failure to tackle the bribery and tax evasion that are key drivers of debt crisis, are among the lowest-scoring EU countries.

Corruption is hampering efforts to tackle the eurozone debt crisis, the TI added, as Greece and Italy scored badly in a list of nations seen to be the most sleaze-ridden.

The economic dramas in the euro area developed “partly because of public authorities’ failure to tackle the bribery and tax evasion that are key drivers of the debt crisis,” said the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI).

On a scale of zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (thought to have little corruption), Italy scored 3.9 and Greece 3.4, ranking 69 and 80 respectively in the list of 182 countries.

Robin Hodess, TI’s research director, said the eurozone crisis “reflects poor financial management, lack of transparency and mismanagement of public funds.”

“There is a strong link between poor performance in terms of perceptions of corruption and broader issues around economic governance,” added Hodess in an interview with AFP.

When graft is widespread, “people feel the pinch at all levels,” she said, calling on Rome and Athens to do “much more” in fighting corruption.

The governments “need to focus on how public funds are managed in the countries,” added Hodess, saying that both large-scale and small-time corruption needed to be battled.

Globally, war-torn Somalia and North Korea were joint bottom of the list, perceived to be the world’s most corrupt countries with a score of 1.0.

Iraq climbed a few places up the list but was still close to the bottom at 175th and Afghanistan remained rooted at 180th despite efforts to curb bribery and corruption there. Libya was 168th.

Most Arab Spring countries ranked in the lower half of the index, scoring below 4.

TI said it had warned before the revolutions in the region that “nepotism, bribery and patronage were so deeply ingrained in daily life that even existing anti-corruption laws had little effect.”

At the other, more virtuous, end of the scale, New Zealand topped the ranking with 9.5 points, coming just ahead of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Singapore.

“This year, we have seen corruption on protesters’ banners be they rich or poor,” said TI chief Huguette Labelle.

“Whether in a Europe hit by a debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” she added.

France and Germany, to which many are looking for a solution to the eurozone crisis, scored relatively well, coming in 25th and 14th respectively.

The United States was one place above France, while fellow global powerhouse China placed 75th. Russia was one of the worst countries on the list, coming in 143rd with a score of 2.4.

The survey “uses data from 17 surveys that look at factors such as enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest,” TI said.

“Corruption continues to plague too many countries around the world,” the TI concluded. –Daily Tribune