DAVAO businessman Rodolfo “Popong “ Reta’s proposal for the government to involve civil society, the Office of the Ombudsman, anti-corruption institutions, the media, and other advocates of transparency in governance in monitoring transactions at the Bureau of Customs is an idea worth trying.
Reta is the same person who exposed rampant smuggling activities at the waterfront resulting in the loss of millions, if not billions of pesos, in uncollected taxes due the government. He should know whereof he speaks since he had operated for years a designated examination area (DEA) where containers laden with dutiable cargoes were scrutinized through a giant x-ray machine worth more than P200 million. It was in this DEA, one of only two in the country, that countless smuggling attempts were thwarted, thereby saving the government a lot of taxpayer’s money. The DEA system worked so well, it naturally made wily brokers and smugglers, and the corrupt customs men in cahoots with them, unhappy and very angry. This is probably why Reta has found himself in a raging conflict and court cases with some ranking customs officials and employees.
Let’s leave the cases to the courts, which are expected to rule on them anytime soon.
On the other hand, if legally feasible, Reta’s proposal is worth considering. It will definitely promote transparency in governance, and a boon to the “matuwid na daan” (straight and narrow path) program of the Aquino administration.
The businessman-proponent clarified that third party monitors should not interfere with the flow of transactions, but rather simply write down their observations and later report them to the authorities and the public through the media. He also said members of the monitoring group should be thoroughly trained and assigned in rotation to avoid fraternizing with the government men they are supposed to watch.
To be sure, Reta’s raw idea has attracted the interest of some good governance advocates like Fr. Albert Alejo of Ehem and peacetalk panelist Ednar Dayanghirang. They are expected to start detailed discussions on the proposal shortly.
The initial interest shown by Messrs. Alejo and Dayanghirang should goad the other do-gooders and anti-corruption advocates to join in and do their share.
We believe Reta’s proposal is good for the entire government, not just the Customs bureau.
