By Gonzalo Duque

 

WHY is corruption in the Philippines everywhere, or shall we say, every corner?

While the flavor of the month today is the rampaging floods visiting our archipelago, we are merely scratching the surface.

It is no longer surprising that no less than South Korean president Lee Jae-myung has refused to lend more money (P28.7 billion this time) to the Philippine government for the reason that our government, led by PBBM has become a subject of notoriety when it comes to corruption.

I will not be surprised if other countries follow the act of the South Korean President. Nakakahiya tayo!

Will Bongbong ever redeem his government from the disturbing negative outside perception?

Now here comes the creation of a so-called independent commission to address the corruption issues at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

I heard that to be named by PBBM  to comprise the commission includes Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, who served during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III.

As of this writing, we still don’t know the entire composition of the commission and its powers and mandates, as well as its limitations.

How independent will it really be since it will be under the Office of the President?

Will the commission recommend charges against all lawmakers, contractors, and DPWH officials found to have conspired with each other in the identification, implementation, and non-implementation of projects?

My take on the matter is the commission will only be used for window dressing by PBBM and his cohorts so that they can sanitize the issues while these are still hot.

I remember the time when Typhoon Yolanda devastated the Leyte and Samar provinces.

President PNoy created a team headed by now Senator Panfilo Lacson. The committee did not accomplish much because of political maneuverings. Besides, the team had no implementing power.

It was followed by a commission created by PNoy to look into the Mamasapano massacre of 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF), where then General Magalong was designated to chair as the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

To the dismay of Benjie Magalong, PNoy did not follow the commission’s recommendation to prosecute the on-leave PNP Chief Alan Purisima and those found to have negligently exercised their power to send an augmentation force to rescue the SAF 44 while they were being massacred by the MILF.

PBBM might regret creating his own Frankenstein that might even eventually swallow his presidency if the recommendation of the Commission is not followed.

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The next issue that we should tackle in the national scene should be the Commission on Elections.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, now headed by Senator Lacson should now face the issues confronting the COMELEC so that our election for 2028 will be honest, orderly, peaceful, and above all, credible. 

If we go by the results of the last two elections, Chairman George Garcia should really be investigated for compromising our national election since he became its chairman over allegations of PDP Laban party that the data files on the May 2025 polls were deleted by the poll body.

Other issues had been advanced by our civil society that the COMELEC has lost the trust of the people in upholding the sanctity of our elections.

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I have been following the cases of the alleged defaulting contractors of the past Lim administration.

Until today, Atty. Valle has yet to submit the needed documents of the contractors to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) before it could pass a resolution authorizing her to file cases before the Ombudsman or the local courts.

I hope that a merry-go-round will not be countenanced by the Sanggunian and the City Legal Office.

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My attention was called to the renewed proliferation of illegal fish pens, especially near the mouth of the Calmay River.

And they are continuously increasing in number, with the city government practically doing nothing against them.

Is this another case for the SP to authorize the mayor, Belen Fernandez, to get rid of the fish pens?

Or, should the mayor exercise her police power under the law to remove the nuisance?

You know, these fish pens were illegally constructed without any permit from the city government.

Sino ang nagpapalusot dito?

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