By Genalyn Kabiling

A radical change overnight will be needed to put an end to corruption in government, President Duterte declared on Wednesday amid his exasperation over dishonest dealings in the bureaucracy.

Speaking at the 1st anniversary rites of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission in Malacañang Wednesday, the President lamented that “so many billions are lost everyday” due to corruption.

“The way the bureaucracy is set up, it is really conducive to or for corruption to thrive. Ganun ang Pilipinas,” Duterte said in his remarks. “You would need a radical change overnight if you want corruption to stop,” he added.

Duterte admitted that he was exasperated with corruption in the bureaucracy that prompted him to offer his resignation twice in the past few months.

He also issued a stern warning to government workers not to get involved in graft and corruption.

“Now, for being like (Adolf) Hitler, ah I have said kasi sinabi ko na sa inyo, ‘huwag.’ Sinabi ko na sa lahat sa gobyerno, ‘huwag.’ Kaya kung pumasok ka diyan, I’m sorry. It is your headache not mine,” he said.

He said he offered to step down when he learned about two alleged irregular government transactions — the Nayong Pilipino lease deal with a casino developer, and the ghost delivery of medicines in the military hospital — in one day. The government officials allegedly involved in the alleged anomalous transactions have already been fired by the President.

Duterte told a group of military and police officials that he was “very sad” to learn about the irregular transactions especially the deal involving medicines intended for soldiers.

“In my exasperation, I said you know I am really very tired. I think my mindset now cannot absorb so much of this. And so I said I would like to offer to you my resignation,” he said.

He told the security officials to stand up if they want another president but no one did. “I let it pass and well I said I hope next time this will not happen,” he added.

Apart from weeding out officials with suspected involvement in corruption, the President pointed out he has directed authorities to reduce red tape in government transactions and ensure swift delivery of service.

Citing an example, he said he ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to streamline procedures on land use conversion after learning some applications were delayed for two years.

He remembered the day he walked out from a Cabinet meeting and threatened to resign out of frustration with the tedious procedures on land conversion presented by Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones. He complained that such clearance process practically included all government departments except the Department of Foreign of Affairs.

“With those requirements you will ensure corruption and it would come naturally and automatic,” he said, adding such long list of clearances would take the applicant two to three years to complete.

Duterte recalled that he refused to listen to the DAR presentation any longer and left the room. “Sinabi ko sa kanila, ‘I want to resign and I feel useless in this goddamn building. Kung ganun lang naman huwag na ninyo akong idamay,” he added.

He bewailed that Filipinos transacting with government have been compelled to pay bribes just to hasten the processing of their application or permit.

“Ang problema nito, every table diyan sa opisina ayaw kong mag-mention kasi lahat — ‘pag may fino-follow up ka, basta clearance — basta clearance or a certification from this office, they simply sit on it at pabalik-balikin ‘yung tao until a fixer could whisper na, “bayaran mo na lang.” Ganun ang buhay ng Pilipino [The problem is every table in offices, I don’t want to mention any, if you follow up on a clearance or certification from this office, they simply sit on it. They ask the person to come back and forth until a fixer would whisper, ‘Just pay for it.’ That’s the way of life of the Filipino],” he said.

As the government fights corruption, the President urged the public to do its part and report any irregularity to his office. He said he was prepared to receive corruption complaint any time of the day.

“I have announced it then and now that anybody who has a complaint for itong mga corruption, extortion, pati itong big business, you have 24 hours to do it,” he said.

He said they could go to Malacanang to report the complaint, promising he would take action.

“They have standing order na maski anong oras gisingin ako. ‘Pag agrabiyado ka sa tao at kinalkal ang ano, report mo sa akin,” he said.