It’s been two or three months since the first revelations into the massive, almost gargantuan, corruption inside the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Yet, some sectors are worried that the same scenario that happened during the infamous pork barrel scam in the 2010’s seems to be destined for a repeat.
The fact that some of the players in the massive theft of public funds in the guise of “development assistance funds” to non-existent NGOs are now finding their cases dismissed has once again raised fears that those responsible for the theft of billions in flood-control (and other infrastructure projects) may also get away with their misdeeds – and even rebrand themselves to a credulous public.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr.’s advice to the public to be patient and let the wheels of the law grind in the ongoing investigation into the flood-control mess doesn’t sit well with a populace that is thoroughly fed up.
What more evidence do we need, Mr. President?
Corruption in the Philippines has been a big, open secret for decades.
We don’t even need the findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to confirm how our coffers, paid for by the ordinary Filipino’s “blood, sweat and tears,” have been looted by greedy public officials using their position to enrich themselves.
In fact, some sectors are beginning to suspect that the ICI is nothing more than a delaying tactic to enable those close to the President (and others who profited, too) to evade wrongdoing. And with good reason.
The biggest wish of the Filipino this coming Christmas is that those who are proven to have engineered this blatant robbery be held accountable.
Otherwise, how can we even pass on to the future generation the lesson that serious wrongdoings have serious consequences – and break this cycle of never-ending greed?