Lifestyle checks are an essential part of anti-corruption programs adopted by every country with a good reputation. Some people, overly concerned about government invasion of employees’ privacy, criticize lifestyle checks on innocent persons. But these examinations of a government official’s lifestyle are a minor inconveniencethat hardly causes any injury on the innocent while yielding much needed moral pressure, and even actual evidence, against the guilty. Every month, according to RIPS Executive Director Ray Gilberto Espinosa, his office adds at least 10 more employees to be lifestyle- checked. This lifestyle check program must be expanded to cover the entire bureaucracy.

Source: Manila Times December 13, 2017 16:30 UTC