Human Rights and Corruption: A Framework for Justice and Accountability


Good morning, colleagues, partners, and friends in the struggle for human rights.


We are gathered here today to discuss a reality that is not only deeply political, but profoundly personal: the issue of corruption in government and its devastating impact on human rights. Too often, corruption is treated as if it were simply an issue of poor governance, inefficiency, or weak leadership. But the truth is clearer and harsher: corruption is a human rights issue.


It is not merely about stolen money or misplaced resources. It is about stolen lives, stolen opportunities, and stolen dignity. When corruption exists, it robs people—especially the poor and marginalized—of their basic human rights. And so, it is our task to frame corruption not just as a legal or political problem, but as a direct violation of the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the core international covenants.


1. Foundational Principles


Let us begin with the principles that must guide our understanding:


First, Accountability. Public officials are duty-bearers. They must act in the interest of the people, not in pursuit of private gain. Yet here in the Philippines, we have seen cases like the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, where billions meant for public services ended up in private pockets. That is not only a betrayal of accountability, but a denial of people’s rights to health, education, and social services.


Second, Transparency. Access to information is not a luxury; it is a right. Both Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights affirm this. But secrecy still protects powerful actors. We saw this during the PhilHealth corruption scandal in 2020, where billions intended for COVID-19 response were allegedly lost to fraudulent schemes—while hospitals ran out of funds and health workers went unpaid.


Third, Non-discrimination. Corruption never distributes its harm equally. It hurts the poor and marginalized the most. A bribe for a medical service is small change to the wealthy, but for the poor, it may mean the loss of life itself. Think of urban poor families forced to pay under-the-table fees for housing permits or relocation, only to be left homeless when funds are misused.


Fourth, Participation. Human rights demand that citizens have the right to take part in governance and decision-making. Yet vote-buying remains rampant during elections in our country. Instead of real participation, people’s votes are reduced to commodities. This weakens democracy and entrenches dynasties who use power for personal gain.


And finally, the Rule of Law. Corruption weakens the legal system, turning justice into a commodity. Here in the Philippines, we’ve seen high-profile cases where justice drags on for decades if the accused are powerful, while ordinary citizens face swift punishment for minor infractions.


2. Human Rights Impact of Corruption


Now let us consider how corruption concretely undermines rights.


In the realm of civil and political rights, corruption erodes equality before the law. The wealthy and powerful can buy their way out of accountability, while the poor are left defenseless.


Corruption also distorts political participation. In the 2022 elections, watchdog groups documented cases of vote-buying, where money and goods were exchanged for votes. This undermines the right of citizens to freely choose their leaders.


Freedom of expression and press are also casualties. Journalists who expose corruption, such as those investigating local illegal mining or smuggling, are harassed, red-tagged, or even killed. Whistleblowers are left vulnerable. Without a free press, the truth remains hidden, and abuses multiply unchecked.


Turning to economic, social, and cultural rights, the picture is equally stark.


The right to health is violated when corruption in PhilHealth or in local procurement denies people access to medicine and quality hospitals. During the pandemic, we saw how corruption literally cost lives.


The right to education is undermined when classrooms are left unfinished because of ghost infrastructure projects, while children continue to study under leaking roofs.


The right to adequate housing and water is denied when funds for relocation projects are siphoned off, leaving informal settlers without decent shelter.


The right to work is corrupted when nepotism and bribery dictate who gets hired for government jobs or contracts, rather than merit and equal opportunity.


And corruption also devastates collective rights.


The right to development is stunted when billions lost to corruption could have been used for poverty alleviation or rural development. Imagine how many communities could have been lifted out of poverty with the billions lost in the PDAF and PhilHealth scandals.


The right to a healthy environment is compromised when corrupt deals allow destructive mining, reclamation, or logging projects to proceed despite violations of environmental laws. Communities in Palawan, Mindoro, or Nueva Vizcaya can tell us how corruption often determines whether their environment is protected or destroyed.


3. Duty-Bearers & Responsibilities


If corruption is a human rights issue, then we must ask: Who bears responsibility?


The State has the primary duty.


To Respect: avoid corruption in governance, particularly in justice and law enforcement.


To Protect: establish strong anti-corruption laws, independent commissions, and whistleblower protection.


To Fulfill: ensure that resources are used effectively to provide healthcare, education, housing, and other services.


But the State is not alone. Non-state actors also carry responsibilities. Corporations must not bribe officials to win contracts or licenses, as seen in scandals involving public works and energy projects. Civil society organizations, for their part, must remain vigilant—acting as watchdogs to demand transparency and accountability.


4. Mechanisms & Approaches


What tools and strategies do we have to fight this fight?


First, legal and institutional mechanisms. The Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, and the Commission on Human Rights play vital roles in addressing corruption and its human rights impacts. Internationally, the Philippines is a party to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which obligates us to cooperate in preventing and combating corruption.


Second, human rights mechanisms. The Universal Periodic Review at the UN has already raised corruption as a barrier to human rights in the Philippines. Treaty bodies like the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can and should examine how corruption denies our people the right to health, housing, and education.


Third, people-centered approaches. Laws and institutions alone are not enough. Communities must be empowered to monitor government projects through mechanisms like citizens’ charters, barangay assemblies, and social audits. Investigative journalists, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders who expose corruption must be protected, not persecuted. And we must invest in civic education so that Filipinos understand not only their rights, but also their power to resist corruption.


5. Framework Summary


Friends, when we bring all this together, the conclusion is unmistakable:


Corruption is not just a crime. It is not just mismanagement. It is a violation of human rights.


It misallocates resources meant for the people’s welfare.

It deepens inequality and discrimination.

It undermines participation and silences the people’s voice.

It erodes trust in our democratic institutions.


Therefore, the fight against corruption is the same fight as the struggle for human rights.


Closing


Let me end with this call:


Every peso stolen from public funds is a meal taken away from a hungry child.

Every bribe pocketed is a medicine denied to a sick patient.

Every ghost project is a classroom denied to our children.

Every rigged election is a voice stolen from our people.


We must never forget: corruption is not abstract. Its victims are real people. And as long as corruption persists, the promise of human rights for all remains unfulfilled.


Let us work together—with courage, vigilance, and solidarity—to hold power accountable, to protect truth-tellers, and to ensure that the rights of our people are never for sale.


Because when we fight corruption, we are not only cleaning up governance. We are restoring dignity, justice, and hope to the Filipino people.


Thank you.