By MAX ESTAYO

Amidst charges of massive corruption in the Arroyo government, the Department of Finance reported that the government last year netted P61.2 billion from anti-corruption programs implemented by different government agencies.

The bulk of the assets given back to the government were seized deposits of former president Ferdinand Marcos.

In a meeting last week with the Millennium Challenge Corp., company owned by the US government, that disburses funds to combat corruption the DOF reported that the Presidential Commission on Good Government recovered P35 billion from Marcos Swiss deposits and has subsequently remitted over P60 billion to the government from 2004-2007.

The DOF said the fight against corruption was achieved despite extreme difficulties in pursuing corruption cases.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Office of the Solicitor General froze P559 million last year and seized P18 million from "corruption activities".

The Office of the Ombudsman forfeited more than P486 million from corruption cases in favor of the government.

The Ombudsman prosecuted high-ranking public officials accused of amassing wealth using public funds including the high-profile case of former President Estrada last year.

The anti-graft court, which works with other anti-corruption agencies, posted a conviction rate of 55 percent last year, nearly thrice from the 2006 level of 19 percent.

The Civil Service Commission also did its share, the DOF said, tightening rules on asset disclosure for more effective asset investigation and forfeiture.

The Commission on Audit helped in stopping corrupt practices, the DOF said. The agency disallowed transactions amounting to P3.7 billion and suspended payments totaling P22.1 billion.

The commission also charged public officials for fraudulent transactions involving P118.3 million.

The agency has come up with a new form requiring very specific information to avoid vagueness in defining assets, as well as completion of information on assets.

A new rule also required declaration of assets of public officials, their spouses and minor children.

Under the DOF’s revenue integrity protection service, which handles corruption cases in revenue-generating agencies, the Ombudsman is currently hearing 47 cases after it had convicted a number of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue and Customs officials last year.

Under the Run after the Smugglers Program, the government filed 60 criminal cases involving 265 respondents with total estimated value of P1.05 billion.

Under the program, the government has suspended the accreditation of 28 brokers for submission of fraudulent documents and for involvement in smuggling.

Meanwhile, under the Run after Tax Evaders program as of February last year, the government has filed 87 cases against respondents that include famous showbiz celebrities.

The DOF is the government’s fight against corruption is hampered by lack of resources to communicate anti-corruption initiatives to the public and perception survey organizations, as well as the delay in trial of court cases due to lengthy appellate processes.

The DOF said temporary restraining orders are also slowing the trials, while the Office of the Ombudsman is faced with limited enforcement powers such as its having no direct access to bank accounts.

The DOF presented the progress in the government’s anti-corruption initiatives to MCC to be able to qualify for a compact agreement and be entitled to a higher aid from the US government.

The Philippines is currently in a threshold agreement where it is receiving $21 million to reduce corruption and improve revenue generation.

The two-year agreement expires in November this year. The higher aid from a compact agreement will give the country more funds to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth.