Pervasive corruption

EDITORIAL

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A special committee of the United Nations has just released the results of a review, stating what is a common perception in the Philippines — that "corruption remains pervasive in all branches of government and the wider public sector" in the country.

The review, released on Feb. 18 in Geneva, Switzerland, was meant to assess the implementation in the Philippines of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The UN committee on the covenant took note of the information provided by Philippine authorities on efforts to fight corruption, including recently enacted laws and policy interventions. But it added: ". . . the committee remains concerned that the direct application of the Covenant by domestic courts, particularly lower courts, continues to remain low."