Opening Pandora's Box

Without structural change, without breaking the hold of patronage, “pork barrel,” and celebrity politics, the fight against corruption collapses into a mere spectacle.

- MARVIN TORT

he Sept. 21 demonstrations against corruption carried deep symbolism.

People poured into the streets of Metro Manila, their anger focused on anomalous flood control projects. The date was not lost on anyone: it was the 53^rd anniversary of the proclamation of Martial Law in 1972. The demonstrations were, at once, about the present and the past.

Ironically, the spark came from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. himself. By exposing and then ordering investigations into a corruption scandal, he opened the proverbial Pandora's Box. What may have begun as a bid to control the narrative quickly became less predictable. Once the lid was lifted, anger took on a life of its own.

The protests may well be the unintended consequence of the President's initiative. In exposing corruption, he invited scrutiny not just of officials and agencies but also of his own family's legacy. By pushing for reform, whatever his reason, the box is now open, and the forces unleashed cannot be contained.

At the same time, the President's offensive against corruption created an atmosphere of expectancy. For a public numbed by recurring scandals, his words, actions, and the ensuing events sparked a faint flicker of hope: that this time, the powerful might not be spared.

Yet the historical baggage of the Marcos family casts a long shadow. To some, this looks less like genuine reform and more like false hope, a calibrated move to address public dissatisfaction with the government, win back approval ratings after the midterm elections, and consolidate political legitimacy before 2028.

The Pandora's Box image is apt. Once opened, the narrative unleashes both real anger against corruption and unavoidable reminders of the Marcos family's past. This is the risk the President may have unwittingly taken, and only time can tell when and how the situation will end.