‘HINDI PUWEDENG TAHIMIK’ | About time to raise more awareness on corruption, says Magalong

July 6, 2023 , 12:41 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(July 5, 2023) – Filipinos must demand good governance from their leaders in the face of “grave corruption” in the government, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong reminded on Wednesday, expressing frustration with anomalous practices that heavily burden the public and the insufficient actions against the problem.

Magalong, also a retired officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), claimed that a large part of the country’s financial leakages goes to corruption so he was disappointed to note that only a handful of lawmakers have spoken about the ballooning debt of the Philippines.

“Nobody would like to give up their perks and privileges. Nobody would like to give up their pork barrel,” said Magalong on TV5’s Frontline Tonight. “Nakikita ko talaga na grabe na ‘yung corruption and it’s about time people should demand good governance from their political leaders. Hindi puwedeng tahimik tayo.”

As of May, the Bureau of Treasury reported that the government’s debt stood at P14.10 trillion, which mostly consists of domestic borrowings at 68%. President Bongbong Marcos Jr. started his term with a national debt of P12.79 trillion recorded at the end of June 2022.

In his speech during the PNP’s flag-raising ceremony last Monday, Magalong raised the alarm over the high debt of the country and noted that “only very few raised hell” about it despite its implications on the nation.

He also shared an instance during a gathering with other local government officials wherein the attendees seemed to have lost interest in his speech when he started talking about good governance, traditional politics, and the correlation of corruption with poverty.

“When I start doing that, they also start looking at their cellphones. Are we not going to ask ourselves, is corruption now becoming a norm in government? Is good governance becoming an exception?” asked Magalong.

He challenged lawmakers to give up their pork barrel or even just a portion of it to help the government pay the country’s debt. He said the uniformed personnel he was able to talk to are willing to share a portion of their pension for the same purpose.

“Pero nakakalungkot. We have heard nothing from our legislators that they are willing to give up their pork barrels,” said Magalong.

In 2013, the Supreme Court already declared that pork barrel was unconstitutional. But some lawmakers slammed the “hidden” pork barrel and called for its removal in last year’s budget deliberations.

Magalong also urged local officials to abandon corrupt practices such as getting kickbacks from projects and biddings. He likewise hoped that the people will rally behind his call for better governance.

“It’s about time na we have to raise awareness,” said Magalong. “People should be made aware of the ill effects of corruption and its direct correlation with poverty and reduced income. The poor are the most affected … Hopefully, it will become a movement.”

(PM)

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