From calamities to corruption, ad nauseam

The worst calamity besetting the nation isn’t the series of earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Not even the pandemic. Our greatest devastation as a nation and as a people, are being caused by outrageously massive corruption. The implications are far-reaching, and the consequences are beyond pecuniary estimation.

There must indeed be a power above us which must have caused the typhoons and the floods, in rapid succession, exacerbated by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, if only to awaken the consciousness of a long-inept and unmindful people. There must have been an expression of outrage from the heavens at man's blatant display of shamelessness and greed. The fury of nature has been unleashed so as to expose to the attention of an imprudent and uncaring population the massive plunder of public funds via ghost flood-control projects and substandard projects.

The heavens must have been so outraged that a series of rallies, protests, and demonstrations were pushing the members of both Upper and Lower Chambers, to attempt to calm the massive buildup of a perfect storm by conducting investigations in aid of so-called legislation. But the two chambers were hitting each other as if virtually weaponizing their investigative prerogatives in order to point the accusing fingers at each other. So Malacañang joined the fray by creating its so-called Independent Commission on Infrastructure.

Whether it is the Senate or the House or the ICI that investigates, there’s judicial and legislative notice to a fact already known to the whole nation that in the Philippines, corruption is as natural as eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In fact, the global community has again, for the nth time, named our country as the third most corrupt country in the whole world. So any investigation is just a charade. What investigation? What legislation? All of us already know that there is corruption from the Cabinet secretary down to the lowest clerk.

Why do they have to squander legislative and executive time, money, and efforts as well as emotions, to search for what we have already found, and what the whole world already knew? I don’t, for the life of me, accept any attempt to distract me from the fact that when a district engineer steals money, and we are talking billions if not trillions here, I cannot be hoodwinked into believing that the regional director, undersecretary, and secretary himself doesn’t know. Tell that to the marines. We were not born yesterday. The Filipinos may be silly, even crazy at times. But we are not that stupid.

If the secretary knew, he must have been rewarded for his mysterious silence. If he did not know, then he should be fired for incompetence, for gross and notorious negligence. His neglect of duties is almost at par in gravity to being in cahoots because his lack of foresight, his lack of supervision and control is tantamount to a crime by reckless imprudence. He was appointed to lead, manage, control, oversee, and watch. If he failed, he does not deserve to continue any more minutes in his high office. He should resign and commit hara-kiri. He has betrayed public trust. Tinimbang ngunit kulang.

Corruption happens because people in high places are greedy. They could not contain their greed, they needed to steal. Corruption happens because contractors are also greedy. The Bids and Awards Committees are also greedy. Public biddings are being rigged. Contractors are being coerced to deliver "for the boys" in many boxes of cash, otherwise the rest of the money would no longer flow like Niagara. The government officials of the implementing agencies, the auditors, the contractors, and even local officials are in conspiracy with congressmen and senators. No one is without fault. Sodom and Gomorrah must be burned.

If I have the power, I shall abolish the Lower House, transform Congress into a unicameral body, fire all COA auditors involved and start a new system of governance led by civil society, disqualifying family dynasties. All those who want to be elected and appointed should undergo an intensive written and oral examination broadcast through national TV and uploaded to YouTube. And I shall do all these forthwith, without fear, favor, or hesitation.

It will not be calamities and disasters that shall devastate the nation and bring anguish to the people. It is the greed of politicians, bureaucrats and contractors. All these people should be deported to Siberia or delivered to The Hague for their massive crimes against humanity.