Malacañang has added a short message system (SMS) service platform to the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center (8888 CCC) so that Filipinos can text complaints against erring and corrupt government officials and employees.
In a press briefing on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. 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.
“Those who are corrupt, lazy, incompetent in the government, be forewarned. You are now one text away,” he said.
Asked how long a complaint can be acted upon, Roque replied, “Each text message is considered communication, and under the law, within 30 days there should be a response.”
Roque said complainants had the option of not giving their complete names, but since the President had promised rewards, the text senders must disclose their real identities.
The complaint must be stated in not more than 200 characters.