Corrupt and lazy government officials and workers, beware.
Malacañang has issued a warning to public servants against committing corruption and inefficient service after it empowered the public to report complaints by simply texting the 8888 hotline.
"Those who are corrupt, lazy, incompetent in the government, be forewarned. You are now one text away," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
The Office of the President has teamed with local telecommunication firms on the establishment of a text service platform of the 8888 complaint hotline. The 8888 citizens' complaint center is one of the offices of the OP Strategic Action and Response Office.
"This new platform / communication channel, which had its soft launch last November 3, would certainly give a boost to the good governance drive of the Duterte Administration," Roque said.
"Citizens can now simply text 8888 from both Globe and Smart and their affiliate telcos and raise their concerns, complaints and grievances on graft and corrupt practices by government officials and employees and slow and inefficient delivery of government services and requests for government assistance -- free of charge," he said.
The establishment of the latest text hotline comes on the heels of President Duterte's intensified campaign against corruption in government. Exasperated with rampant corruption, he directed the Department of Justice to launch a sweeping probe of anomalies in the entire government and prosecute those involved.
Recently, the President offered incentives to people who can give information about "ghost projects" and other irregularities. He has repeatedly appealed to the public to report corruption complaints to his office so appropriate action can be taken against those involved.