THE November 5 online story of the Philippine Star featured this: “Eradicating corruption? Start at the top, says MVP.” But what or who is or are at the top of the Philippine political-economic and social structure?
The report by EJ Macababbad implies that the “top” involves the government’s highest officials, which is also the general public perception – and all blame goes to them.
But are they really the “real” power in the present political set up of Philippine society?
Philippine politics is a microcosm of U.S. politics, and as President Donald Trump said about it, “I will tell you that our system is broken; I gave to many people; I give to everybody.
“When they call, I give. And you know what, when I need something from them two years later, three years later, I call them. They are there for me.
“That’s a broken system.”
Hence, while his ‘MAGA’ (Make America Great Again) support base is already turning against Israel’s genocide in Palestine, his government continues to support Israel due to the “Jewish donor class.”
Compounding the problem is that the domestic financial oligarchy that also owns mainstream media to build up personalities to become senators or get higher positions (Noli de Castro who became a senator and vice president and Raffy Tulfo, from a television blocktimer to senator), is a mirror of the Western financial-political oligarchy.
The deeper issue in the South China Sea with China is with Pangilinan’s PXP Energy backed by transnational finance giants who wants to privately control the (oil) resources in the area.
The problem of corrupt politicians was not as bad during Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency as he prioritized public welfare and firmly stood with the Constitution’s Independent Foreign Policy.
He also cracked down on the domestic oligarchy’s abuse such as suing Maynilad (Pangilinan) and Manila Water (Ayala), among others.
What of BBM? He pivoted back to America and submitted the Philippines to US diktat that sidelined the interest and welfare of our nation.
He has prioritized preparation for a “proxy war” against China as the all-important objective: mass anti-China propaganda and “assertive transparency” provocations in the SCS.
Behind all these, BBM, Martin Romualdez and their cohorts started the public treasury looting frenzy and bribed Congress to get the impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte moving. The oligarchs, meanwhile, decided to follow events silently as all these served their interests.
But when the P1.2-trillion flood control project scam exploded and a massive outpouring of indignation rose against BBM and his gangmates, the Makati Business Club (MBC), bastion of oligarch rule, had to ride the wave of public anger.
And yet, they also reverted to the “impeach Sara” narrative (remember its executive director Apa Ongpin’s post chastising the Supreme Court for striking down the impeachment) as part of their message, signaling they prefer the likes of BBM in power.
If we want to eradicate corruption, we must have a government that prioritize public welfare free from the oligarch’s influence; the corrupt must be hunted down the way Socialist China deals with government and corporate corruption.
Just recently, China executed corrupt government officials and dismissed even military generals for the same reason.
Genuinely serving the people will also require the reversal of laws passed since the Cory Aquino “counter-revolution” that led to the rise of the power of the local oligarchs and the entrenchment of liberalization, privatization, and deregulation.