‘Mahiya naman kayo’: A call to conscience in ending corruption

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s striking rebuke—“Mahiya naman kayo! (Shame on you)” —echoes louder than most political pronouncements in recent memory.

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Simple, raw, and deeply moral, the statement cuts deep through the usual noise surrounding corruption in government. It is a call for transparency and a direct appeal to conscience. And finally, it appears to be working.

The President’s remarks come amid mounting scrutiny over the anomalous use of public funds, particularly in flood control projects—a sector long riddled with inefficiency and suspicion.

In response, the House leadership is now calling for transparency in every layer of budget deliberation. It vowed to open every step of budget talks to the public, even planning to invite civil society watchdogs to witness the proceedings. Senators, too, are beginning to push harder for clear, honest dialogue in the allocation of national resources. A resolution has been filed, urging the opening of bicameral deliberations to the public.

But let us not be deceived. Words, no matter how powerful, are not enough.