By Ricardo Saludo

Praise and support rose for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in decrying unprecedented, appalling corruption in flood control projects cornered by politician-linked contractors and endangering Filipino lives and livelihoods. This is despite many dubious contracts in districts of politicos allied with Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Indeed, critics wonder whether Marcos’ exposé was just a daring maneuver to preempt opposition attacks on the flood control mess, near-impossible to hide with its nationwide magnitude spawning both destructive inundation and barely begun yet certified completed and paid “ghost projects.” As Filipinos say, “inunahan na” — condemn sleaze before opponents do.

Also shifting recrimination from culpable national leaders is the focus on suspect contractors and colluding public works officials. Former economic planning secretary Solita Monsod points out that the biggest chunk of flood control disbursements — 25 percent by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s calculation — goes to politicians.

Yet none were named by Marcos and hardly any bigwigs were denounced in Congress — until this week. Now, a contractor and a district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), both accused of siphoning flood control funds — implicated Speaker Romualdez, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, and more than a dozen congressmen.

Plus, then-Senate president Francis Escudero was replaced by Sen. Vicente Sotto III over P30-million election contributions to him from a contractor with government projects — who is barred by law from donating to candidates. Escudero was also linked to the insertion of public works projects allegedly totaling P285 billion not in the 2025 budget proposal, including P9 billion for his home province of Sorsogon.

Speaker Romualdez lauded the Senate presidency change. Yet even before being accused by DPWH district engineer Brice Hernandez, Romualdez — a Marcos cousin — already faced issues under his watch, including public works insertions worth many billions of pesos. Plus, the slashing of education, health and other allocations for the poor in the 2025 budget to boost dole out and construction spending widely seen as electioneering outlays and impeachment inducements.

Will the scammers stop?

So, rather than a political and media masterstroke, Marcos’ flood control exposé may turn out to be his biggest mistake, with contractors and DPWH officials blamed for the gross graft now implicating administration bigwigs like Escudero and Romualdez. Marcos now echoes the named lawmakers in saying their accusers must show proof. And the DPWH and the Commission on Audit called on the anti-graft Office of the Ombudsman to sue three contractors over anomalies in Bulacan flood control projects.

Where will all this lead? Two directions are likely — both threatening to Marcos’ rule. First, the crisis would further erode public support and trust for the administration, already close to negative after the arrest and dispatch of former president Rodrigo Duterte and the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Serious moves to hold corrupt politicians accountable — particularly the new independent investigative body including anti-graft advocates Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and former public works and highways secretary Rogelio Singson — would probably undermine stalwarts of the ruling coalition. It cannot be that the probe would clear Congress leaders who masterminded the budgetary insertions funding flood control anomalies.

Moreover, curbs on public works spending cut political largesse used for party expansion and electioneering. Already, President Marcos wants zero flood control outlays for 2026, which would not only erase that political funding source, but also hurt communities that do need protection from inundation.

Perhaps most impactful for the Marcos-Romualdez regime’s continued power is how burgeoning budgetary scandals affect voters’ choices in 2028. The swing against the administration in the May elections will likely continue, making it harder for the Marcos camp’s presidential candidate to win.

And forget about another impeachment against Vice President Sara to bar her from public office, now that congressmen and senators have lost the moral high ground to raise corruption issues against her — not to mention budgetary shenanigans to favor congressmen voting to impeach. Come 2028 and despite access to government resources, the administration would face tougher odds than even in the midterm polls.

What if the Marcos-Romualdez group recovers from the flood control scandal, particularly if new controversies eclipse the issue as it did the e-sabong brouhaha, and pro-government media somehow burnishes the national leadership’s tarnished reputation?

Notably, in 1985, two years after the Aquino assassination ignited mass protests against then-president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., public animosity toward the strongman was actually declining, and that partly led to his decision in December 1985 to call snap presidential elections.

Well, if the current regime stays afloat after the current debacle, will its scheming scammers learn their lesson and stop their kleptocratic ways? Or will they be emboldened to grab even bigger payoffs in sectors still under the anti-graft radar?

The latter is far more likely. And that cannot but lead to even more explosive scams by the big fish who got away with tens of billions of pesos in infrastructure theft. No prizes for guessing how the Marcos-Romualdez regime would end up with even worse excesses.

Reform or repeat?

Reform or repeat? — that’s the giant question for President Marcos and his camp. And their answer will depend much on one shortcoming the chief executive must address.

As a leader, Marcos has been unable to stand up to pressure or crack the whip. Even before his first year in office was up, Marcos gave in to the United States’ behest and not only let his first national security adviser Clarita Carlos go, but also shelved her review of the US-Philippine alliance and abandoned the neutrality he had long espoused.

Marcos also yielded to his camp when it moved against Vice President Sara starting May 2023 with the ouster as senior deputy speaker of her ally, Pampanga Rep. and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This anti-Sara campaign continued until Marcos himself joined in just as he did the country’s swing to America against China.

Will President Marcos crack the whip in the battle against corruption especially when his allies resist reform? That will decide the future of his rule.

   

Postscript by Marcos Resign Movement

Demand for the Immediate Resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

We, the impassioned voices of a nation yearning for justice and integrity, rise as one in the face of adversity. In this pivotal moment, we declare our unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy, accountability, and the unyielding pursuit of truth.

1. The Call for Justice: We echo the cries of the oppressed, the marginalized, and the silenced. We demand justice for the victims of corruption and the erosion of our democratic values, including the violation of the constitutional rights of the people to peacefully assemble and exercise free speech and expression.

2. A Beacon of Democracy: We stand as guardians of democracy, unwavering in our resolve to defend its sanctity against those who seek to undermine it. Our democracy is not a privilege but a right that must be upheld at all costs.

3. The Resignation Imperative: We declare with resolute conviction the urgent need for the resignation of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His leadership has plunged our nation into turmoil, betraying the trust of the people and tarnishing the very fabric of our society.

4. The Power of Unity: We harness the power of unity, transcending barriers of ideology, creed, and background. Together, we form an unbreakable bond, a force to be reckoned with in our pursuit of a better future.

5. A Symphony of Voices: We amplify our voices in peaceful protest, a symphony of dissent that reverberates across the land. Our dissent is not a sign of weakness but a testament to our unwavering commitment to change. Through peaceful protest, we demonstrate the strength of our convictions and the depth of our resolve.

6. The Legacy We Inherit: We act not only for ourselves but for the generations yet to come. We refuse to bequeath a legacy of oppression and injustice to our children. Our actions today shape the world they will inherit tomorrow.

7. The Dawn of a New Era: We herald the dawn of a new era, a renaissance of justice, accountability, and hope. Together, we sow the seeds of change that will blossom into a future defined by progress and unity.

In affixing our signatures to this petition, we pledge our hearts, our minds, and our unwavering determination to the cause of justice and accountability. Let our voices ring out as a clarion call for change, for a brighter tomorrow for all.

(This is a voluntary sign-up petition. As of this writing, only 1,232 have verified signatures. If you wish to signup, goto https://www.change.org/p/demand-for-the-immediate-resignation-of-president-ferdinand-marcos-jr)

 

Email: contact@asiancenturyph.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiancenturyph/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsianCenturyPH

Substack:

Also read: