“Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.” – Karl Kraus
Mind-boggling, even nauseating is the amount involved in the flood control projects anomalies. But perhaps not in anyone’s dream that no less than the President was the first one who took the bold step to expose this anomaly much less he will declare Martial Law. Yet the anomaly to my mind, echoes some fine points of a pattern of policies and actions resembling that of his late father. Arguably, this seems to have a centralized dynamic, historically comparable to that of the late dictator.
SINCERITY AND DIRE CONSEQUENCES
In the past couple of years almost a trillion pesos were allocated for the flood control projects many of which allegedly were “ghosted” if not standard laden with allegations implicating even involved high-ranking officials in the government. The President was the first person who blew the whistle and shows consistency as we speak by creating an independent commission (ICI) to investigate the scandal that now dwarfs the amount of people’s money embezzled by Janet Lim-Napoles. His latest action was the slashing of a significant amount of the public works department proposal for 2026, signaling his seriousness to get down to the bottom of the issue – ferreting out the truth and those guilty must suffer dire consequences.
While many doubt his seriousness and sincerity, big heads have started to roll, including his allies. Both houses of congress have a new leadership as a consequence of the scandal implicating the former Senate President and Speaker of the House. On the other hand, political pundits are quick to react that this is a political gambit meant to destroy political enemies, shield the president, and restore public trust and confidence in his office.
RESEMBLANCE
Doubtless to say, the country’s democratic institutions are now faced with anger and hatred from the people in particular, the segment of intelligentsia asserts that this resembles a centralized political measure reflecting Martial Law character in one or more ways. One is the consolidation of power in Congress whose leaders are the President’s allies not implicated in the scandal, at least for now. However, it is also argued that there is impending distrust and the erosion of check and balances. These checks and balances come in two fronts: highly favoring political allies occupying key positions including Congress, which is not surprising, and the spirit of the separation of powers becomes blurry.
The circus implicates officials and contractors somehow mirrors the Martial Law period back when cronies were rewarded and favored while the public suffered shivering consequences. On the flipside, this projects the president as reformist amidst an unimaginable level of corruption sans repression. And the creation of an independent commission is seen by others as mere “technical exercise” that may exclude politicians allied with the President.
What is gleaned on top of corruption in this scandal is political power that is being wielded that raises doubts in the transparency of the budget; the independence of the democratic institutions, aligned with the separation of powers. As opposed to the repression during Martial Law expression of public dissent and protestations and public engagements are highly tolerated.
This opens a pandora’s box exposing a systematic scheme of corruption, but worse this endangers the lives of the people and their livelihood, leaving them without alternatives. Instead of protecting them and their abode including their source of livelihood the substandard projects can only sweep away their homes and breakdown of infrastructures and destruction of properties and crops. Resilience was snatched by extreme vulnerabilities.
SIGNIFICANCE TO GOVERNANCE
The scandal is way more than the issue of corruption. It is about human lives first and foremost, a holistic approach to wipe out a systemic scheme of corruption inside DPWH and structures of powers-that-be. It is also a deep and critical approach to the climate crisis and how government attacks this, with people’s participation more than their indignation.
In the meantime, the immediate expectation is that those who are involved face the consequences of their actions.*
