In the past there have been allegations that the fight against corruption targets only the small fish while the major ones slip through the net. In fact, in the annual publication of the corruption blacklist by the Office of the Ombudsman, petty crimes, mostly by grassroots leaders, dominate, and that has been the case for the last several years. But now, it seems, the tables are beginning to turn. Currently, cases of misappropriation and misuse of government funds, corruption and fraud by senior officials – both in the public and private sector – have been dominating the news. Some have been cleared after investigations while others are either in court or still under investigations. For a country that prides itself for its zero-tolerance for corruption, clamping down on the big fish sends a clear message: There are no sacred cows. Some years ago, people accused of corruption who were tried and convicted served their sentences and upon release would serenely enjoy their loot. It was only after some time that the government started going after convicts to recover the lost funds only to discover the concerned people had been smart enough to conceal their assets. That honeymoon ends today, according to the Prosecutor General. Anyone one under investigation will have their assets frozen immediately to await the outcome of their case. If anyone, to whom the assets were transferred to hide them cannot prove their source, they will be prosecuted. That was the missing ingredient, the loophole, in the fight against graft and it could not have come at a better time.
