Outstanding nemesis of corruption

Title

Creator

De Castro, Ben S.

Language

English

Year

1972

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Graft and Corruption IN THE SPRAWLING Malacanang Park located south of the Pasig River opposite Malacahang Palace, one of the few low, un assuming buildings houses the Complaints and Investigation Office (CIO). Unlike other lo cations of government offices, the area which is better identi fied as the locale of the security force of the Palace, is a peace ful and quiet nook—conducive site for offices with special mis sions. It is therefore not surprising that an equally quiet and unassuming man works conscientiously in the Park. He is Secretary Quirico P. Evangelista— a Fourth Degree Knight of the Order of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines and District Deputy of District No. 40 consisting of five KC councils—who now heads the Com plaints and Investigation Office. Sec. Evangelista is one of the several mem bers of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines who are occupying high positions in the government. As CIO Chief, he acts as overseer of gov ernment functionaries and guardian of the oppressed and seemingly de fenseless individuals who are very often the victims of injustices hurled against them by unscrupulous govern ment personnel. A Case of Don Quixote It is noteworthy that Sec. Evange lista is a prime mover in the creation of the K of C Anti-Graft Organiza tion—a highly placed citizen partici pation in the fight against graft and corruption. As consultant of the KCAGOR, he is instrumental in hav ing stirred the present enthusiasm of the KCs in fighting graft in the gov ernment, about which many of them were doubtful at the start as a case of Don Quixote sparring with a wind mill. Outstanding Nemesis of Corruption “A strong public opinion or oneness of thought is necessary in the fight against graft and corruption, but this should be not only in words but moire significantly in action.” To say that his present job in the government is expressly cut out for him in view of his experience and stature as responsible official (pls. see biodata) is definitely not tossing flattering comment. Indeed, the job of going after grafters in the govern ment service and the perpetrators of similar ills, in the private sector should fall upon the shoulders of a man with unquestioned integrity who has written for himself a way of life that is worthy of emulation. Page 12 Secretary Evangelista joined the CIO (then PARGO) in 1967 as De puty Chief soon after his retirement as Vice-Commander of the Philippine Navy; in 1969, he became the Acting Chief and has held it up to the pre sent. Downward Trend In an exclusive interview with the Cross, Sec. Evangelista said that to ddy there is a downward trend in graft and corruption in the govern ment in the wake of’the "vigilance not only of his organization and the other watchdog-agencies of the gov ernment but also of the citizenry— the student activists and vigilantes groups, the peasants and workers who have made marches for a cause, many times denouncing graft and corrupt tion, This is not to mention the pri vate organizations that now have an May-June, 1972 observant eye at the performances uf government personnel: All have contributed to the diminution of in stances of perpetration of graft. The CIO Chief said that graft and corruption is a national ailment—it is a disease that plagues government offices and its total eradication seems unlikely. But like a disease, graft and corruption and pther forms of ills of the government can be ade quately minimized or prevented— there can always be some remedies on hand to keep them from flour ishing. Strong Public Opinion Secretary Evangelista staunchly believes that a strong public opinion or oneness of thought is necessary in the fight against graft and corrup tion but this should not only be in words but more significantly in ac tion. He laments the fact that at times, while some citizens are at first vocal in denouncing a government of ficial who, by common knowledge, has violated the anti-graft law, they become afraid to testify in court. The top government graft-buster lauds the small people who have come to his office to report graft cases and been brave enough to “tell every thing” in the trial courts. The CIO’s operations scope, accord ing to Secretary Evangelista, is na tionwide. Of the total number of ca ses filed with the Agency, 782 in volved national officials and employ ees, 76 provincial officials and em ployees, 71 local officials and employ ees, and 62 officials and employees of government-owned or controlled cor porations. Assistance to the Public Secretary Evangelista said that the CIO gives assistance to the general public like those seeking aid in con nection with their claims for back pay, back salaries, pensions, compen sation, retirement, death and educa tional benefits, land conflicts, policy premiums or dividends, not to men tion its all-out support to those who contemplate filing complaints against erring government officials or em ployees. There should «be an unremitting vi gilance and active participation of the general public in the crusade against graft and corruption if the vicious tentacles of this national mon strosity are to be severed, Secretary Evangelista said. The Knights of Columbus as a civic organization.has shown the road towards this end, he declared. —BEN S. DE CASTRO May-June, 1972 A Life of Achievement Secretary Quirico P. Evangelista was born in Orion, Bataan on June 16, 1915. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio in 1940. He finished law at the University of Manila in 1950 and passed the bar the following year. He earned a Master of Laws (Cum Laude) at the University of Manila (1954). He studied in several military service schools here and abroad, the last in the Naval War College, Newport, U.S.A. (1960-61). He saw’ action in Bataan and Corregidor during World War II while serving with the Off-Shore Patrol, USAFFE. After the war, he served in various positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was at one time Navy Task Force Commander, Patrol Force Commander, Chief of Naval Staff, AFP Chief of Per sonnel (J-l) and AFP Chief of War plans (J-5). After retiring in 1966 as Vice-Commander of the Philippine Navy, he was called back to the government service as Customs Directoi- of the ASAC in 1966; later as Deputy Chief of the PARGO in 1967; then as Acting Chief of PARGO (now CIO) from September 1969 to the present. He is a former professor of law in two Manila universities and a guest lecturer at the Philippine Center of Professional Management, Manila. He has been a recipient of various military awards and num erous civic and academic awards. He is an officer and member of various civic and religious organ izations in the country. He is at present District Deputy of the Knights of Columbus (District No. 40 consisting of five councils in Manila). He is a Past Grand Knight, Our Lady of Loreto Council No. 4288 and Past Faithful Navigator, Padre Burgos General Assembly; and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. Secretary Evangelista is married to the former Miss Felicitas Verzosa. Their union is blessed with ten children. Page 13

Media