But in this long analysis of Duterte's war on drugs StrategyPage notes this:
A cultural change that means one is ashamed of being corrupt? Who wudda thot?
The Filipino corruption score has not changed much since 2012 when it was 34. There is still a lot of corruption in the Philippines but it is no longer “acceptable” (as in “everyone does it”).
the corrupt here use the law to delay delay and delay justice, bribe the courts and cops, and of course, cause the witnesses to "disappear".
Which is why Filipinos support the "vigilante tactics" that go against "rule of law":
Duterte used vigilante tactics to reduce the ability of drug gangs to terrorize the areas where they operated and openly bribe police and other officials. This is what most Filipinos disliked most about the illegal drugs, in addition to children or kin turning themselves into anti-social addicts. After three years most Filipinos still rate Duterte as effective and able to deliver on campaign promises.
Making corruption unacceptable is being helped by a rarely reported cultural change: the increased number and influence of the growing number of middle class Evangelicals here (in contrast, the Bishops hang out with corrupt politicians, condemn the "drug war" and preach sweetness and light/liberation theology, not morality, and Tagle is running for Pope so no one expects them to change).
Whether or not the cultural change against corruption will succeed depends on the grass roots, since our presidents have only 6 years in office and can't run again.
Cultures can change: just look at America, where NY state is cheering baby killing and the MSM lauds sexual immorality without pointing out the full details of who is being hurt.
But eventually the evil loses it's grip: as the African proverb says: even a small snake has a tooth. This is the reason the #me too, Hollywood predators and the Catholic bishops hypocrites were wondering what hit them when their victims found a voice.
Ah, but who will defend the unwanted if the church is too busy making nice to politicians to condemn them?
Cultures can also change for the better, but it has to be a grass roots change, or else you get tyranny where the corrupt take over and steal everything in sight and justify it by saying it is for the poor: as in Venezuela.
Speaking of Venezuela: You know, another underreported story is how Colombia pretty well turned their country around: Grass roots demonstrations against FARC and drug cartel violence was the turning point.
But I could see the change starting years ago: when I adopted my sons, I had to bribe the officials to get their paper work done.
Four years later, in the early 1990s, we visited their town again, and we needed to get some papers, and the official turned down my bribe. She pointed out to the demonstrations in the street that were going on, and told me that the demonstrations were not about more pay (which is what I assumed) but about more pay so that they didn't need to take bribes, and also enforcing the law against taking bribes.
It took 20 years, and the place is still corrupt, but it is now one of the most prosperous countries in South America.
One is hoping that the Philippines will turn their culture around and become more prosperous so our people don't have to migrate to Saudi etc. to find jobs to support their families.
By the way, StrategyPage has a long essay on corruption here, with a lot of information on the fight against corruption in China.
alas, Xi (remembering various religiously inspired civil wars in the 1800s) is again turning to his communist roots to destroy religions that put God ahead of the state, even though religion could be a front line help to fight corruption.
as one business article puts it:
We also find that these steps are most effective in countries with a free and plural press, an independent judiciary, and a potential for collective action (such as a community that can be appealed to or organized, such as a religious community, a civic organization, or a trade association). When these conditions are in place, it will be easier for an organization to take a firm stance against corruption, especially political corruption.
Finally the SP essay has a disturbing paragraph on the nexus of North Koreans, Koreans in China, and local Christian churches.
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