BBM Slams Corruption, Abuse as Nation Marks Heroes' Day

Even small forms of deception should not be allowed to pass as they slowly destroy society, President Marcos said yesterday, as he vowed to fight corruption that he said steals not just state funds, but also the dreams of future generations.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

In his speech for National Heroes' Day, Marcos said that while Filipinos who serve and display honesty prove that heroism is still alive, others prioritize their interests over the welfare of the nation.

"We should focus not only on strengthening our defense capabilities to preserve our freedom. We also need to fight against the threat of corruption and abuse of power in our society,” the President said during a ceremony held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig.

“Because they do not just steal money, but also the health, dreams and future of the next generation of Filipinos,” he added.

Marcos, who recently launched a crackdown on substandard and ghost flood control projects, said Filipinos have the responsibility to be critical of wrongdoing, expose deception and stand for what is right even if it is not easy to do so.

“That’s why we should not ignore small deceptions. Because if they are done repeatedly and we allow them to pass, they would slowly destroy our society without us knowing it,” he said.

The President cited the need to awaken the youth’s consciousness of their civic duty and guide them to be more discerning about societal issues.