Only Relentless Outrage Can Bring Change

THE CORNER ORACLE

- ANDREW J. MASIGAN

Thousands took to the streets in Jakarta after it was revealed that 580 Indonesian parliament members received a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah or P175,000.

Protests spread quickly across Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta and other parts of the country. Demonstrators looted and torched government offices, parliament buildings and even politicians' homes—all to express their indignation for the abuses.

The relentless outrage caused President Prabowo Subianto to succumb to public demand. Last Sunday, Prabowo revoked the housing allowance and suspended overseas trips for lawmakers. He also imposed sanctions on certain parliament members.

Prabowo bent to the public's will.

Here in the Philippines

Our Indonesian brothers went to the streets for so little—just P175,000 for each lawmaker. Here, the Filipino is robbed of billions. Do the math. In the 2025 national budget, legislators inserted roughly P879 billion worth of pork in many disguises. Divide this by 316 congressmen and 24 senators. Simple math shows that each bagged P2.6 billion, some getting more than others. This does not count the billions they steal for ghost projects, proxy contractors and other rent-seeking schemes. Each lawmaker can plunder tens of billions every year.

Why aren't we enraged and out in the streets like the Indonesians? Sure, our outrage is palpable on social media, but it is by no means commensurate to the magnitude of the theft. Filipinos must be the "kindest" people on earth ("kind" being interchangeable for "witless").

Our long-suffering nature has emboldened our plunderous leaders to rip us off with impunity. The more forgiving we are, the graver their abuses become.