A former US colony, the Philippines has one of the most Americanised cultures on the planet. Filipinos virtually subsist on American culture – McDonald’s burgers, Starbucks coffee, Hollywood films, pop music, even American cuss words. There’s one thing, though, that they haven’t learned to adopt from the Yankees. It is the rule of law, not least of all in the maritime arena, as highlighted in the following press release issued on 4th January by the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas:

BEAUMONT FORMER CUSTOMS OFFICER GUILTY OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION

BEAUMONT, TX – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a 39-year-old former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, assigned to Port Arthur, Texas has pleaded guilty to public corruption in the Eastern District of Texas.

Tyrus Kidd, of Beaumont, was charged in a superseding indictment on Dec. 16, 2009, with accepting an illegal gratuity and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to the superseding indictment, on August 23, 2009, Kidd allegedly demanded and subsequently accepted illegal gratuities from the Captain of the Motor Vessel Chaconia for conducting an inspection of the vessel. Kidd was first indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 9, 2009, and arrested by Special Agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Internal Affairs.

Kidd faces up to 2 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Internal Affairs, Houston Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Henderson, Jr.

The foregoing may sound slightly alien to Filipinos even though there’s a Philippine law which prohibits public officials and employees from soliciting or accepting ‘any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value’ from any person in the course of performing their official duties. Gratuities are part of the local culture. Indeed, as every shipyard or ship operator in the country knows, they are routinely demanded by those responsibile for enforcing the rules.

No wonder the Philippines ranks 39th in Transparency International’s 2009 roster of most corrupt countries. No wonder it has one of the worst maritime safety records on earth. ~Barista Uno