Graft and corruption are often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct meanings,

especially in the context of the Philippines.

1. Graft: In the Philippine context, graft refers to the abuse of power or authority for personal
gain. It involves using one's position of influence or authority to obtain dishonest or illegal
benefits, such as bribes, kickbacks, or favors. Graft often occurs when government
officials misuse public funds, engage in nepotism, or manipulate government contracts for
personal profit.

2. Corruption: Corruption is a broader term that encompasses a range of dishonest or

unethical behaviors, including graft. It refers to the misuse of power or resources for
personal gain, whether in the public or private sector. Corruption can take many forms,
such as bribery, embezzlement, cronyism, and patronage.

Ghost Projects: Ghost projects are fictitious or non-existent projects that are created on paper or
in records to siphon off funds or embezzle money. These projects may be budgeted for,
approved, and even allocated funds, but in reality, no work is done or the work done is of inferior
quality or incomplete.
Ghost Payrolls: Ghost payrolls involve the creation of fake employees or the inflating of the
number of employees on an organization's payroll in order to divert funds for personal use. In this
scheme, individuals responsible for managing payroll input fake names or inflate the hours
worked by nonexistent or inactive employees.
Evasion of public bidding in the awarding of contracts is a form of corruption and procurement
fraud wherein government contracts are awarded without following the legally mandated
competitive bidding process. Public bidding is designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and
efficiency in the procurement of goods and services by government agencies. However, evasion
of public bidding circumvents these principles and can lead to various negative consequences
Nepotism: Nepotism occurs when individuals in positions of authority favor their relatives or
close associates when making decisions, particularly in matters of employment, promotion, or
allocation of resources. Instead of considering qualifications, skills, or merit, nepotism prioritizes
personal relationships or familial connections. For example, a manager might hire a less qualified
family member over more qualified external candidates.
Favoritism: Favoritism involves showing preferential treatment or granting advantages to specific
individuals or groups based on personal bias, friendship, or other non-merit factors. Unlike
nepotism, favoritism is not limited to family relationships but can extend to friends, allies, or
individuals with whom the decision-maker has a personal connection. Favoritism can manifest in
various ways, such as giving plum assignments, promotions, or special privileges to favored
individuals.
Extortion is a criminal offense that involves obtaining money, property, or services from
someone else through coercion, intimidation, or threats of violence. It typically involves a
perpetrator using fear or force to compel the victim to comply with their demands.
Bribery is the act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value (such as money,
gifts, favors, or services) to influence the actions or decisions of an individual in a position of
authority or trust.

Omissions: Omissions refer to the failures or neglect by public officers to fulfill their obligations or
duties. This can include instances where public officers fail to take action when required, neglect
their duties, or intentionally refrain from acting in situations where intervention is necessary to
protect the public interest. Omissions can be just as consequential as affirmative actions and may
result in harm, injustice, or detriment to individuals or the community.
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A.

This phrase essentially describes the act of one public officer convincing or encouraging another
public officer to do something that breaks the rules or regulations set by the authorities.

Alternatively, it could mean that a public officer allows themselves to be convinced or influenced
by someone else to do something against the rules.

B.

An example of this provision could be a scenario where a government official involved in

awarding contracts for infrastructure projects requests or receives a cash payment from a
construction company bidding for a government contract. In exchange for the bribe, the
government official ensures that the construction company wins the contract, even if their bid is
not the most competitive or if they do not meet the required qualifications.

C.

An example of this provision could involve a government official who works in the licensing
department for a particular industry, such as telecommunications. Suppose this official has the
authority to approve permits or licenses for companies seeking to operate in the
telecommunications sector.
If a telecommunications company approaches this government official and offers to provide them
with a lavish vacation package or expensive gifts in exchange for expediting the processing of
their license application or for ensuring that their application is approved, this would constitute a
violation of the law.
D.