By Atty. Howie Calleja
You know, sometimes it feels like the Philippines is stuck in a bad dream. We’re a country overflowing with potential – warmth, resilience, a spirit that just won’t quit – but there’s this nagging shadow, a persistent thief that keeps stealing our hope. That thief is corruption. It’s not just the occasional slip-up; it’s a deep-rooted problem that’s eating away at our progress and breeding distrust. And honestly, while the scandals that make the headlines get everyone riled up, they often distract us from something even bigger: the alleged “ghost projects” within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Whispers suggest this could be the biggest scandal of them all, dwarfing even the most infamous cases.
Think about it: Remember the Fertilizer Fund Scam? Money meant for our farmers, allegedly used for political campaigns instead. Then there’s the NBN-ZTE deal, a promise of better internet that turned into a mess of alleged bribery. And who could forget “Hello Garci,” a scandal that shook our faith in the very foundations of our democracy with accusations of election rigging? The Napoles PDAF/Pork Barrel Scam showed us how billions intended for development projects could vanish into thin air, lining the pockets of a select few. And most recently, the Pharmally scandal during the pandemic – a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when transparency and accountability are thrown out the window. But even those pale in comparison to the sheer scale of these alleged DPWH ghost projects. It truly breaks your heart to think that money that should be used for hospitals, roads, and keeping our people safe is being stolen, used to fund someone else’s lavish lifestyle.
You look around at other countries, and it just makes you wonder. Places like Nepal, Indonesia, even France, they get up in arms about corruption that’s a fraction of the scale we’re dealing with. So, what’s wrong with us? Why do we seem to accept this as just part of life? It’s not about calling for chaos or violence; it’s about finding our inner fire, that “moral awakening” that makes us realize that real change starts with each and every one of us. It’s about deciding to be better.
And what’s even more frustrating is the feeling that no one is ever really held accountable. You see other countries, like Thailand, actually holding their leaders responsible. But here? It often feels like the investigations just fade away, and the “big fish” get to swim free, leaving the little guys to take the fall. It’s time we change that. We need to insist on accountability at every level.
So, what do we do? The answer, I think, is that we band together and commit to changing the whole culture. Corruption isn’t a political thing; it’s not about religion. It hurts every single Filipino. We have to stand tall and demand transparency, accountability, and a sense of ethics from our leaders. We have to recognize that this is about greed, about putting ourselves first. We need to shine a light on these alleged DPWH ghost projects and demand a thorough investigation, ensuring that anyone found guilty – from secretaries and congressmen to senators and beyond – faces the full legal consequences. Furthermore, any impeachment trial, such as for the VP, should proceed, ensuring no one is above scrutiny.
This isn’t just about complaining, though. It’s about making a choice to be better. To demand integrity from our leaders. To hold them responsible. To refuse to accept this culture of “pwede na” (good enough). It means being informed, voting wisely, watching how the government spends our hard-earned money, and speaking out when we see something that’s not right. All those scandals, they’re a warning. We can never let our guard down. Ethical governance isn’t just a nice thing to have; it’s the bedrock of a thriving society. It’s time to demand the Philippines we deserve, a Philippines where justice prevails and corruption no longer steals our future.