The Federation of Free Workers is outraged over yet another instance of institutionalized corruption in government and the consequent violation of human rights in an attempt to silence key witnesses to the raging National Broadband Network (NBN) investigations.

Such violations of human rights bring a chilling effect to citizens and activists who opt to exercise their Constitutionally-ensured freedom of expression, freedom of speech and the right to redress government for legitimate grievances.

As starkly shown in the televised investigation of the aborted ZTE-NBN deal, the FFW condemns the institutionalization of corruption in the procurement system in government, where the system is manipulated to suit the needs of suppliers who are favored by unscrupulous government officials in exchange for personal gains. Booty capitalism, which was identified by an expert economist as a major block to genuine economic reforms and which in fact perpetuates poverty, continues unabated.

The investigations once again exposed deadly flaws that must be corrected in our fledging democratic system; in general, booty capitalism under a framework of neo-liberal globalization; in particular the wanton disregard for human rights and democratic checks and balances as well as investigations in aid of election.

Bureaucratic corruption not only deters infrastructure development, it also deprives government of resources to alleviate poverty and to improve the lives of its citizens; likewise, it adds up to the cost of doing business that are later passed on to the consumers, aside from making industries globally uncompetitive that results in massive job losses.

Infrastructure Development would have spurred more economic activities, which means more jobs creation. For this, the poorest of the poor suffer for the roads that are not passable to light and ordinary vehicles in the provinces, even to horses and beasts of burden in so many barangays. Multilateral Development Bank Loans and Projects have poured in for the Power Sector, but electrification remains a dream in so many areas. The Philippines prides in being an agricultural country but ironically there are no efficient irrigation systems in so many agriculturally-rich areas. The country is archipelagic, yet there is no sufficient source of potable water in so many areas both in the countryside and in urban areas.

Corruption cripples the finances of the state and creates an artificial need to raise taxes to balance the budget or to improve social welfare. In this way, workers, consumers and taxpayers unfairly bear the burden of replenishing the state's coffers to fulfill its obligations to citizens through additional taxes, while the greedy evil wrongdoers in government and business enjoy their loot devoid of any accountability.

In the light of the revelations over the past week, those implicated in the violation of human rights, the perpetration of corruption and the weakening of our social and democratic institutions should be prosecuted and be held liable to the Filipino people. Unless this is done, we are in danger of reversing to an authoritarian state or worse of becoming a failed state.

Workers and their unions should continue to exercise utmost vigilance and support all initiatives that would increase transparency in procurement and in all government transactions while helping establish strong institutions for democracy by, among others, exposing bureaucratic corruption and helping maintain dynamic check-and-balance within government in the spirit of good governance.

We pay our highest respect to all those who acted with valor to expose and oppose corruption in government and violation of human rights.

The FFW joins with all forces in society who seek the truth and justice in this outrageous incident.

In seeking the TRUTH, it will set us FREE!