When all else fails, there is always financial Big Brother to turn to.

We have a law against corruption, an independent anti-graft watch dog, and most importantly, a President sworn to a “moral leadership” through his Tuwid na Daan policy and to lift the country out of the pits of poverty..

Surely, “three strikes’ should be enough to stamp out grand and serial theft of the people’s money.

Now, if these still don’t kill the thieving beast, let us call in the top financial enforcer itself – the World Bank.         

Yes, no less than WB Group president Robert B. Zoellick is in town. Arriving in Manila Tuesday, Zoellick promptly pledged the bank’s support to fight corruption and yank the country out of poverty.   

He said his visit sought to strengthen the bank’s partnership with the Aquino administration which was trying to pursue reforms for good governance and overcome poverty.

The WB Group has a total loan commitment of at least $2 billion to the country with an additional $185 million in commitments from its private investment  arm, the International Finance Corp.

Zoellick’s visit came almost a month after President Aquino gave a speech during the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, where he talked about good governance.

“The World Bank shares the view that fighting corruption and boosting transparency are vital to development,” Zoellick was quoted by a major broadsheet as saying. “We know corruption is a drag on the economy, taxes the poor, and strangles opportunity, so I am looking forward to seeing first hand and learning from some of the reforms President Aquino has put in place to improve governance,” he added.

The WB chief’s  visit came a day after the bank released a comprehensive report that details the extent of corruption in the country, noting that  charitable foundations and organizations were being used to embezzle government funds or the proceeds from corruption.

The 285-page report, The Puppet Masters: How the Corrupt Use Legal Structures to Hide Stolen Assets and What to Do About It. cited cases of how cronies of past administrations used foundations to to hide money trails.

Zoellick said the new government’s focus on good governance would help boost economic growth as better governance improves the investment climate as well as helps ensure efficient public spending.

The WB chief was scheduled to meet P-Noy as well as the economic team led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. He is also scheduled to meet with leaders and representatives of civil society organizations as well as the private sector to extend an existing socio-economic lifeline to the severely marginalized sectors 

“At a time when many countries have increasing numbers of people living precariously near the poverty line, targeted safety- net programs are vital to help the most vulnerable people to continue to have opportunity and hope,” Zoellick said.