Indescribable corruption

VIRTUAL REALITY

- TONY LOPEZ

On Sunday night, President Marcos Jr. cried on camera, during the fourth episode of his regular presidential podcast. He wondered how the flood control became so massive, how has government become so corrupt? "I am shocked, I cannot believe that government has come to this (low point)," the President winced, groping for words.

Conservative estimates are P1 trillion of taxpayers' money has been lost to the flood control scam, half of the P2 trillion allotted for flood control in the past 15 years. P1 billion a day is stolen at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). That's on flood control alone. Billions more are lost on projects like highways, bridges and buildings.

"I'm not disheartened. I'm not disappointed," the President wept. "I get very, very angry. How can you do this to people that have worked every day of their lives? Walang ginawa ito kung hindi magtrabaho. Nagsakripisyo nang mahirap for very little. Just to be able to send money home. Just to be able to feed their family, send their children to school. That's all they want in life. Kukunin niyo pa sa kanila 'yun para bumili ng Rolls Royce."

Aside from the mind-boggling amount, Marcos noted, "so many people who have no right to pocket the money" are involved. "Hindi nila tinatago (they are not even hiding it)." The scam did not happen overnight. "This happened over many decades."

"We have to figure out what really happened," he said, and "if it requires legislation, it requires restructuring the government, all these we need to do."

"We're making an omelet. We're going to have to break some eggs. There's just no way around it," Marcos said, explaining the need for a thorough investigation, with an independent commission.