People”s anger not abating

It has been four months since the initial PBBM expose’ of the DPWH overpriced, substandard, and ghost flood-control projects. There have been additional revelations/accusations and investigations, but nothing significant has happened, even with the creation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), assignment of the new ombudsman, and the other ongoing investigations. Some assets have been frozen, confiscated and attached, but no arrests have been made, and so far no detailed accounting of the ill-gotten assets already in government possession and ownership.

It must have been divine intervention that in the past few weeks, the Philippines was hit by a series of typhoons that resulted in massive flooding in many regions, that highlighted the faulty/misplaced/ghost flood-control projects which are the sources of the kickbacks to the government officials, the extraordinary profits of the contractors, that fueled their opulent lifestyles.

The deaths from the floods and collapsed /misplaced structures were naturally/consequently attributed to the graft-ridden DPWH flood-control projects. The main and social are aflame with these implications feeding/stoking the anger of the people against those involved and against the government.

DPWH Sec. Dizon has publicly promised that some of the accused will be in jail by December or before Christmas, and the people are eagerly awaiting this development. It has to include some senators and congressmen, aside from the DPWH officials and contractors to appease the expectations of the people. This scandal will be “top of mind” for the people, until significant results are delivered by the government, especially since it has already slowed down the growth of the Philippine economy and affected peoples income, as contrasted to the wealth of those involved in the bogus projects.

Aside from the political activists, which are now dominated by the Gen X, Y, and Z individuals, all the business, professional, religious, and civic organizations have publicly expressed their demands for the government to pursue the investigations, prosecutions, restitutions, and convictions of those responsible for the corruption in these DPWH projects. They are all clamoring that the ICI be given more powers, and for the AMLA, SEC, the Department of Justice, and the ombudsman to produce results faster and sooner.

There are already announced planned rallies/protests in the coming weeks and months against the perpetrators of the corrupt anomalies of the DPWH projects, and demanding actions/resolutions. The partisan rallies in November 16 to 18 by the INK, the Quiboloy sect, the JIL organization, and the Duterte loyalists, are expression of political self-interest. But they are riding on the palpable anti-government sentiment generated by the DPWH flood-control scandal and the delayed government actions/resolutions of these massive corruptions. The November 30 multi-sectoral civil society rally would be the more credible and lasting protest movement that should perturb the BBM administration, since it is the genuine reflection of the cross-section of Philippine society.

In the last 16 years, this DPWH flood control projects corruption scandal is the largest in terms of amount and the number of government officials and contractors involved. The PDAF, ZTE, and Pharmally scandals pale in comparison. But, it brings back memories of the government officials who were also accused but got away with it, as they were exonerated, acquitted, or pardoned. This time the Filipino people are expecting and wanting that real truth and justice will prevail, and the guilty get their punishment, and most of the money/assets recovered by the government and spent for education, health, and infrastructures that will really benefit the people.