Corruption: Malversation of public funds or properties by public officials or employees
INTRODUCTION:
Corruption, defined as the abuse of public power for private or personal benefit, is one of the main problems faced by developing countries, most especially here in the Philippines. Corruption tends to dampen economic progress and trigger economic inequality. In an effort to prevent those detrimental effects, the Philippines spend considerable amount of resources to eradicate corruption.
Corruption has been present both in the government and the private sector. It comes in several different forms including bribery, fraud, nepotism, graft, speed money, pilferage, theft, embezzlement, falsification of records, kickbacks, influence peddling and campaign contributions.
The United Nations (UN) identifies two types corruption--petty and grand. I am inclined to use, on the basis of its pervasiveness, the terms spontaneous and institutionalized (systemic). This spontaneous type can be found in societies observing generally strong ethics and morals in public service.
Institutionalized corruption is a problem that thrives in the weakness of both public and private institutions to act as effective fiscalizers for the greater public good. Opportunities for corruption abound in the absence or lack of order, transparency and accountability.
In the Philippines, there is a strong belief that corruption is prevalent. In a 1998 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, more than 70 percent of the respondents thought that corruption existed in the Philippine government. Nearly 40 percent believed that there was "a great deal of" of corruption. One of the best example is malversation of public funds and properties done by public officials and employees.
What is malversation (Definition by RPC and authorized sources)
A.) Thesis Statement:
Corruption : Malversation of public funds or properties by public officials or employees is an act that hinders
Bibliography: Tilendo v. Ombudsman, G.R. No. 165975, 13 September 2007, 533 SCRA 331. Rodriguez v. Sandiganbayan, 468 Phil. 375 (2004). TELLO, v. People, G.R. No. 165781, June 5, 2009 Ocampo III v Davalos, Sr. v. People, G.R. No. 145229, April 24, 2006, 488 SCRA 84, 92-93. Jamilano v. Cuevas, No. L-33654, July 23, 1987, 152 SCRA 158, 161-162 Young v Bolastig v. Sandiganbayan, 235 SCRA 103 (1994). Trocio v. Manta, G.R. No. L-34834, Nov. 15, 1982, 118 SCRA 241. Mayuga v. Maravilla, No. L-18826, December 17, 1966, 18 SCRA 1115. Arula v. Espino, No. L. 28949, June 23, 1969, 28 SCRA 540. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1060 – AN ACT INCREASING THE PENALTY FOR THE CRIME OF MALVERSATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS OR PROPERTY, BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED SEVENTEEN OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE REPUBLIC ACT No Reyes, Luis. The Revised Penal Code: Book One Articles 1-113. 18th ed. Manila: Rex Printing Inc., 2012.