People's anger and ways forward

There is no cure-all or easy fix to the age-old problem of corruption in this country.

- Atty, lan Vincent Manticajon

But left unchecked, bad governance and elite privilege fester into anger that can erupt on the streets, as we are now seeing in Indonesia. Some say the current civil unrest there is a sign of things to come in the region, especially in countries like the Philippines, where systemic corruption remains deeply entrenched.

The unrest in Indonesia began in late August 2025 as people protested against lavish housing and allowance perks granted to members of parliament, along with police violence. The protests have since spread nationwide, across multiple cities, with parliament and government buildings set on fire, widespread looting, thousands of arrests, and at least six confirmed deaths.

I sense the same simmering discontent among our people. In those I encounter and observe every day, you can feel the anger that ordinary people struggle to contain at the constant flaunting of wealth and luxury by the plunderous few on social media, set against the struggling existence of the poor, the working class, and even the middle class.