40 years after: Why the PH was not able to sustain gains of 1986 People Power
Baguio-Benguet Laban Sa Korapsyon convenor Gabriel Siscar agrees that lack of public vigilance was the main reason for failed gains in 1986 EDSA Revolution.
By: Rimaliza Opiña
On the 40th year of the People Power, a cross section of Baguio society gathered on Feb. 23 at the Bishop’s Compound of the Roman Catholic church, not just to commemorate but to dissect why the issues during Martial Law remain pervasive to this day.
In a forum organized by the Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korapsyon, long-time activist Geraldine Cacho said significant gains have been achieved from the 1986 People Power Revolution. But these reforms had been eclipsed when, as the years progressed, the public forgot to remain vigilant.
Among the biggest gains of the People Power was the 1987 Constitution, creation of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, passage of the Lina Law, and in the Cordillera, the permanent of stoppage of the planned operation of Cellophil Resources Corporation and the Chico River Dam project.
Cacho said when the gains have not been sustained, it was like Martial Law again, only in another form.
Filipinos elected a president that permitted the killings of suspected drug users and dealers, corruption persisted through various infrastructure projects, and the national budget continues to be exploited through financial nomenclature that only a few people understand.
Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korapsyon co-convenor Gabriel Siscar added, poverty is still widespread in the Philippines because of corruption. Citing various data, he said projects implemented in the Cordillera show that contracts have a very large profit margin. Prices of materials for various infrastructure projects, such as those implemented in Benguet have also been found to have been bloated, he said.
Dela Salle University Professor David Michael San Juan also warned that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. should not be branded as someone who is “less evil”. He reminds that while there is a perception that the President does not tolerate corruption, the investigations showed that several personalities who have close links to him have not been invited in the investigations of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, nor the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the President’s cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, former Senate President Chiz Escudero, and businessman Meynard Ngu — personalities all linked to anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects have not been called by any investigating body to answer allegations, San Juan added.
Regardless of alliances, San Juan said the public should demand accountability from everyone and anyone involved in the misuse of public funds.
“Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot. Imposibleng walang alam ang top executive natin sa corruption,” San Juan said, echoing the new battle cry of the “new” people power — that no one should be spared from punishment if they betray public trust.
At the same forum, groups and concerned citizens to bring to their respective congressmen the “demands” of the public.
Among these demands are, discontinue budget insertions and allocables; pass a Freedom of Information Act; strengthen prohibition on the acceptance of campaign funds from donors that could possibly become a source of conflict of interest; stop projects that are destructive to the environment; pass a progressive Anti-Dynasty Law; allow the public to nominate their own partylist representative; widen public participation in the budget preparation; and a thorough audit of campaign finance reports.
