Either we stand or stumble

In his last State of the Nation Address, President Marcos did something many leaders before him hesitated to do. He publicly exposed the festering rot behind anomalous infrastructure spending, particularly flood control projects. It was a bold declaration—one that raised hopes for real accountability in a country long scarred by corruption. But in the months since that speech, those hopes appear to be steadily chipping away.

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The resignations of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Senator Panfilo Lacson—arguably two of the country’s most credible and battle-hardened public servants—from the investigation into the scandal is a blow too loud to ignore. These are not men easily shaken. However, both cited mistrust, unseen hands, and disturbing maneuverings that signaled the investigation was being compromised from within. Their disengagement is a warning flare that must be taken seriously.

The message is clear. If even the most principled are forced to walk away, what future is left for truth and justice in this case?

The investigation, at its core, is about what kind of nation we are becoming—one where public money, meant to protect lives from devastating floods, is diverted into the pockets of the powerful. This is betrayal on a national scale.