How outraged are we?

In an apparent attempt to appease the angry public over the flood control projects scandal, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered lifestyle checks on all government officials.

Will the Filipino people welcome this order with enthusiasm? I seriously doubt they will. Will the public officials tremble in fear? I seriously doubt that too. I am not being pessimistic. I am being realistic.

The flood control projects scandal is not the first to explode in the faces of politicians and government officials. It’s just one of many, not least among them the pork barrel scandal and the fertilizer scam --both of which sparked rallies across the country.

What makes the public grow tired of investigations is that they already know what happens next. After all the angry condemnations, endless press releases, and promises to go after crocodiles and the piranhas, yes, the corrupt and rotten souls, to the pit of hell --we all go back to business-as-usual, as if nothing happened. The perpetrators go scot-free and then a new scandal emerges.

These days, social media continues to erupt with harsh criticism from netizens directed at contractors, politicians, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). They have been painted in the worst way possible. But the question is: “How long will this outrage last?” The next question is: “Is the strong enough to spark real and concrete change?” Or perhaps the real question is: “Is there really outrage at all?”

Outrage arises when our sense of right and wrong is triggered. It is something innate in our respective consciences.

But how outraged are we really? We have politicians and government officials with their children who live in mansions and who can travel around the world anytime they want. They own businesses all over their town, city, district, or province, most of the time through their dummies.

They live lifestyles far beyond what their salaries could justify.

In the face of all these injustices, how outraged are we, truly? I am not sure. We still invite them to our parties, let them cut ribbons, and make them ninongs and ninangs at our weddings or our children’s baptism --not because we believe they can guide our children towards a Christ-like life, but because we want to strengthen our connections, gain leverage in business, or simply show off how well-connected we are.

Patriotism is supposed to teach us to rise above self-interest. Sadly, that seems to be what we sorely lack. Despite their questionable records, we elect them again and again into office and even joyfully campaigning for them.

The church is not blameless either. Many priests avoid confronting politicians --who often sits in the front pews-- about corruption during homilies. The reason is obvious: politicians are major donors to church projects, especially during fiestas.

We despise snatchers and pickpockets, but we call politicians “honorable” even when they steal not millions, but billions of pesos. We forget that they are the reason hospitals are ill-equipped, why patients die unnecessarily, why children go to bed with empty stomachs, why people are homeless and hungry. They are the reason this country has gone to the dogs.

Certainly, these corrupt politicians do not deserve to be looked up to. They deserve public opprobrium. They should not be part of the circles of people who value integrity.

We teach our children that stealing is wrong, fine, but that lesson should not stop at home. Teach them to hold corrupt politicians in contempt.