What we want
By: Leia Fidelis Castro-Margate
On September 21, anti-corruption street rallies and protests were conducted in various parts of the country, including our beloved city.
Not intending to attend any of the rallies, we instead took time to pause and reflect on what we, as Filipino citizens and tax payers, want to happen. We initially posted this on our personal Facebook account and felt that it should find space for this month’s column too.
We are angered by the trillions lost in uncovered and yet to be uncovered schemes and scams. We continue to receive revelations of similar cases in our region, confirming our thoughts that, yes, they are very close to home. They are in the substandard roads we traverse, the drainages, the erosion control, and all the flimsy infrastructures we have to endure. Flood control projects are just the tip of the iceberg of this ugly monster eating our stolen money.
We want genuine transparency and accountability for our tax payments. We want all those guilty of plundering the people’s money, particularly those who benefitted the most, to be held to account for their deeds. Let them be tried and found guilty by the courts. Let them be metted with equally disgusting punishment including a requirement for them to return the money (unlike what they decided in the Napoles, Reville et al case). Let the cases proceed speedily and impartially, not sparing those who have names and positions to hide under.
We want specific and realistic plans to move forward to address the greed-ridden system surrounding budgeting, allocation, and project implementation. We do not want investigations that will impede the process of justice instead of hastening it. We do not want investigations that will reach nowhere– just being done to entertain the viewing public, with no intent to pass suitable laws that will address the gaps and prevent recycled versions of graft and corruption embedded in government. We do not want a mere changing of the guards.
We urge all our colleagues working in government, especially our public officials, to always follow the law, lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income, and avoid the extravagant display of wealth. This should extend to the families they are raising, their spouses, children, and relatives up to the infinite degree. We join government service with no expectations to get rich.
We continue to educate our children how to be law abiding citizens, to be honest in all their dealings, and to strive to become better Filipinos. In due time we will teach them how to exercise their rights to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
May our collective voices–online, in other places of gathering, and on the streets–be heard and rightfully addressed.
