Deny, Defend, Deflect

It's that time again. The time when after a years-long massive scandal has broken names have finally been dropped. Important politicians who effectively pull the levers of government and decide which projects happen by allocating the funds have been implicated. Allegedly they received kickbacks for preferring certain contractors over others. Of course every single one of the accused have denied the allegations, defended themselves by stating they are above board, and deflected by claiming it's all part of a political conspiracy to tarnish them. In fact, they are so positive they are not guilty that some have refused to recuse themselves from the investigation. What conflict of interest? They have already declared themselves to be not guilty. 

That is not to say any of the accused are guilty. It is to say some of these people (Binay, Estrada, and Revilla) are have previously been accused of graft and corruption. Why is it the same names keep floating to the surface in corruption probes? Why would the accusers risk their lives and reputations by naming innocent parties in sworn affidavits? 

It's clear that the same pattern of past corruption probes will happen this time in the anomalous flood control projects investigation. Big names will be accused and charged, they will deny the accusations, the trials will drag out for years, and they will ultimately be found not guilty due to incompetence on the government prosecutor's part. In the end no one will be held accountable and no others will be accused. That is exactly how the PDAF scandal played out over the past decade. 

Here are just a few of the accused. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2115165/nancy-binay-denies-links-to-anomalous-infra-deals

Former Senator and now Makati Mayor Nancy Binay on Thursday denied any involvement in anomalous infrastructure deals, stating that there was “no truth” in the accusations against her.

This was after the former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo implicated her and other senators in an alleged scheme involving infrastructure deals.

“I am shocked and saddened that I am being implicated in the anomalies within the DPWH. The accusations against me are not true,” said Binay in a statement.

“We have been quietly doing our work as the Mayor of Makati. It is surprising that we are being used to divert attention from those who should truly be held accountable in this issue,” she added.

Binay then noted how easy it is to make false and malicious statements, maintaining that her performance in public service “has always been above board and beyond a shadow of doubt.”

In his affidavit during a Senate blue ribbon panel hearing, Bernardo claimed a close aide of Binay — whom he identified as Carleen Villa — arranged a deal with him seeking a 15 percent cut in exchange for government projects.

He then claimed the 15 percent cut, amounting to P37 million, was later delivered to Binay in her supposed residence in Quezon City.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2115125/deped-undersecretary-olaivar-denies-link-to-faulty-infra-projects

Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar denied Thursday his involvement in the alleged irregularities surrounding government-funded infrastructure projects, where he was accused of receiving a cut for the project’s implementation.

Olaivar acknowledged that his name was mentioned by Roberto Bernardo, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary, during the ongoing Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, in which he revealed other senators and former senators involved in the alleged faulty projects.

“I deny the allegations made and want to state clearly that I welcome any investigation regarding this matter,” Olaivar said in a statement.

“To allow a fair inquiry, I will voluntarily take a leave of absence from my post and am ready to fully cooperate with any and all proceedings,” he also said.

Olaivar was mentioned by Bernardo in his affidavit, which he read during the Senate blue ribbon panel’s investigation into the alleged kickback schemes in public infrastructure projects.

According to Bernardo, Olaivar previously worked for former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., then moved to the office of then-Sen. Sonny Angara, now the education secretary.

Bernardo told senators that Olaivar had “personally” called him for a meeting to discuss unprogrammed funds under the Office of the Executive Secretary. Olaivar, according to Bernardo, had requested that he submit a list of projects.

The list of projects submitted by former DPWH Bulacan 1st District engineer Henry Alcantara totaled P2.85 billion.

Bernardo told the Senate panel that he and Olaivar had agreed to a 15 percent cut and that this was delivered to the latter in Makati and elsewhere.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2113178/jinggoy-estrada-no-proof-of-kickbacks-tied-to-me

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada remains confident that no evidence exists linking him to any supposed “kickbacks” in flood control projects.

This was according to his spokesperson, lawyer Bianca Soriano, in reaction to the documents, computer files, and other items from former Bulacan engineer Brice Hernandez supporting claims against lawmakers linked to flood-control anomalies.

“For now, I can share that Senator Estrada has always been firm and consistent in denying these allegations,” she told reporters in a message.

During the previous Senate hearings on the anomalous flood control projects, Hernandez alleged that Estrada and Sen. Joel Villanueva maneuvered to allocate P355 million and P600 million, respectively, for funding in Bulacan’s first district in exchange for an alleged 30-percent cut.

According to Soriano, there is also no valid ground or sound reason for Estrada to refrain from the Blue Ribbon Committee.

“He has consistently denied the baseless allegations against him and remains committed to performing his duties with impartiality and integrity,” she added.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/110078/zaldy-co-denies-link-to-alleged-dpwh-flood-control-kickbacks/story/

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has denied allegations that he benefited from alleged kickbacks in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects.

Co’s name surfaced during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday, September 8, 2025, where contractor Pacifico Discaya said some lawmakers and DPWH officials were allegedly given “percentages” in exchange for letting projects proceed. 

Discaya testified that as much as 30 percent of project funds were demanded: 25 percent for officials and 5 percent as insertion.

In his statement, Co said the accusations were “baseless and irresponsible,” and that they were “politically motivated.”

“I vehemently deny all the baseless and irresponsible accusations made against me during the Senate hearing held today. These unsubstantiated claims, which attempt to implicate me, are not only hearsay but are also politically motivated designed to mislead the public and deflect accountability,” Co said.

He added that the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was certified and approved by Congress and signed by the President, who also vetoed some provisions and withheld funds for certain projects.

“However, the validity of the 2025 GAA is currently the subject of a case before the Supreme Court and the Ombudsman. For this reason, I am unable to comment on the matter to the public but reserve my right to comment on this matter, if and when, required by the courts where this matter is pending,” Co said.

The Ako Bicol lawmaker is among several officials named in the ongoing Senate inquiry into alleged anomalies in DPWH flood control projects.

The Blue Ribbon Committee is set to continue its hearings in the coming weeks as it probes reports of “ghost projects” and questionable fund allocations linked to the multibillion-peso flood control budget.

https://news.tv5.com.ph/politics/read/ex-senator-revilla-denies-alleged-link-to-flood-control-mess

Former senator Bong Revilla on Tuesday denied accusations linking him to alleged flood control anomalies in Bulacan.

Revilla reacted to the testimony of Henry Alcantara, the dismissed district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan.

“I deny. Wala po akong kinalaman diyan,” Revilla said in a short statement.

In his sworn statement, Alcantara claimed that there were P300 million worth of budget insertions for 2024 intended for Revilla, who was then seeking reelections for 2025. Revilla lost his bid for a second term.

“Sinabihan ako ni [Public works] Usec. [Robert] Bernardo na ‘Henry kay Sen Bong yan baka gusto mo tumulong sa kanya e dagdagan mo ang proponent ikaw ang bahala!’ … Kaya po imbes na 25% ay naging 30% ang naging proponent ng nasabing mga proyekto,” the sworn statement reaed.

Several lawmakers and public works officials have been accused of involvement in alleged irregularities in flood control projects. The lawmakers have denied the allegations.

The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended charges of violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, indirect bribery, and malversation of public funds against two other senators and several others, Justice Sec. Boying Remulla told senators.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/09/25/news/escudero-denies-allegations-in-dpwh-kickback-testimony-vows-legal-action/2190187

Sen. Francis Escudero on Thursday strongly denied allegations by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee linking him to kickbacks from government projects.

In a statement, Escudero said Bernardo’s testimony was “malicious” and “baseless,” stressing that the former DPWH official himself admitted to having no direct dealings with him.

“I will prove that he is lying about my alleged involvement,” Escudero declared.

The senator suggested that the accusations form part of a broader scheme to discredit the Senate and distract the public from what he described as the “real perpetrators.”

He questioned why other officials were not being implicated in Bernardo’s testimony.

“Why is it always senators being pointed to? Where is Zaldy Co? Where is Rep. Martin Romualdez in all of this? Where are his accomplices? If we go by Bernardo’s testimony, they are all without fault or connection to this. That doesn’t sound believable,” Escudero said in Filipino.

Calling the inquiry a “stage play” designed to mislead the public, Escudero vowed to fight back by filing appropriate charges against Bernardo for what he described as “worthless and baseless accusations.”

Escudero said in his nearly three decades in government, he has never been charged with corruption.

“That record speaks for itself. I believe that when all the facts are revealed, my name and my service will remain untarnished,” he said.

Bernardo had testified that project funds worth around P160 million were funneled through Escudero’s close associate, allegations the senator has now rejected outright.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2115317/romualdez-denies-kickback-raps-taguig-home-being-repaired-since-2024

Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has disputed allegations that he received money from infrastructure projects — said to be delivered to his home — noting that the Taguig City residence mentioned has been under renovation since January 2024.

Romualdez, in a statement on Thursday, said that the testimony of Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s witness — a certain Orly Regala Guteza who is supposedly Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co’s former security staffer — is a mere fabrication meant to forcibly link him to the kickback scheme.

According to Romualdez, former speaker of the House of Representatives, a huge flaw in Guteza’s testimony is that the money was supposedly delivered to his home in McKinley Street in Taguig in December 2024.

Such a thing is impossible, Romualdez said, because the home has been under rehabilitation since January 2024.

“The so-called testimony of Sen. Marcoleta’s witness is an outright and complete fabrication—nothing more than a desperate attempt to link me to supposed kickbacks where none exist. [The testimony is] extremely forced,” he said.

“The most telling flaw is the witness’ claim that deliveries were made to McKinley beginning December 2024. That’s impossible. That property has been under renovation since January 2024 and was unoccupied except for construction workers. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus—false in one thing, false in everything,” he explained.

According to Romualdez, he will not allow such political attacks — and testimonies borne out of coaching — to pass through.

“This is clearly political and the product of coaching. I will not allow these perjurious statements to pass unchallenged. I will not let this slide,” he said.

“I repeat: I have never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project. I have never authorized, instructed or allowed anyone to engage in any conduct that would betray the people or taint my name,” he maintained.

“I welcome a fair, transparent and impartial investigation to expose these falsehoods. I voluntarily resigned as speaker of the House of Representatives precisely to demonstrate my full support for the inquiry into flood control issues,” he added.

Romualdez also noted that he will counter malicious accusations, noting that he remained silent only out of respect for the process.

“I remained silent out of respect for the process, but now that my name has been maliciously dragged into this controversy. I will fight back — not with rhetoric, but with evidence. I’ve never stolen public funds. I don’t need money that comes from evil sources,” he said.

“To the Filipino people, I give you this solemn assurance: I will never betray your trust,” he added.

During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday, Guteza stated that he had delivered money to the home of Romualdez, which was allegedly intended as kickbacks from government projects.

Guteza said he was assigned to carry and deliver luggage containing “basura” — a term for piles of money, approximately amounting to more or less P48 million each — to certain locations.

Guteza said he used to report every day at the 56th floor of Horizon Residences in Bonifacio Global City, where Co resides. However, whenever he is assigned to “garbage” duty, they usually go to 28th Lady Bug corner Dragonfly Street in Valle Verde 6, Pasig City.

According to Guteza, during each “garbage duty,” certain individuals are expected to deliver suitcases containing money, which in return will be received by John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay, both of whom were Co’s executive assistants.

“What usually happens when we are on duty with the ‘garbage’ is that it is often brought to Congressman Zaldy Co’s house in Valle Verde 6, where it is received by Mark and Paul,” said Guteza.

“For example, we brought up 46 suitcases, but we would bring down only 35 suitcases to deliver to the houses of House Speaker Martin Romualdez at 42 McKinley Street, Taguig. The 11 suitcases were left upstairs on the 56th floor of Horizon Residences,” he testified.

“Approximately three times, I myself delivered the ‘garbage’ to Congressman Zaldy Co’s unit at Horizon Residences and to the houses of Speaker Romualdez at 42 McKinley Street, Taguig,” Guteza recalled.

The investigations of alleged corruption in flood control projects — and protest movements against such activities — sprung in light of revelations regarding an alleged extensive kickback scheme in the government’s infrastructure programs.

The spotlight on flood control projects came after Marcos’ speech at his fourth State of the Nation Address, where he condemned government officials and firms who allegedly earned kickbacks at the expense of people suffering from heavy flooding even during mild rain showers.

Marcos said these officials and contractors should be ashamed of themselves.

Eventually, Marcos inspected different flood control projects that were labeled completed, which he later found out to be either substandard or completely non-existent.

The flood control scandal has affected Congress’ leadership.

Last September 8, former Senate President Francis Escudero was replaced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, after Escudero was criticized for receiving a P30 million campaign donation in 2022 from a contractor whose firm had secured numerous government infrastructure projects.

In the House, Romualdez relinquished his post last September 17 to allow an independent commission to probe his alleged involvement.

Romualdez has not been connected to any of the top companies doing the flood control projects, but he was one of the lawmakers named by contractor-couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya of allegedly receiving kickbacks from the projects.

Romualdez called out the Discaya couple’s claims, calling it “false, malicious and nothing more than name-dropping.”

Protesting Corruption Is Futile

Across the nation on September 21st, thousands of people took to the streets to protest corruption. It's kind of odd seeing as corruption is an accepted way of life in the Philippines. Where were these people during the past two decades? Well, they have been there off and on over the years.  A scandal will be uncovered, the people will be outraged, and then after securing the correct permits and being corralled into the designated protest zone the people will be allowed to vent.  Then the status quo returns because little to no change is effected. 

Why are these periodic protests ineffective? Perhaps because the people know corruption is the accepted way of life and there is nothing to be done about it. Let's take a look at these recent protests and assess the reasons why protesting against corruption is ultimately futile.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2113011/provinces-erupt-in-protests-against-corruption

Streets, plazas and churches became stages for a nationwide outcry against corruption, as thousands of students, clergy, activists, artists and ordinary citizens demanded accountability from a government accused of plundering public funds intended for flood control projects.

People from different cities, towns and provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao marched, prayed, tolled bell and raised placards in a powerful chorus against graft, fraud in government projects and decades of systemic abuse, just in time for the commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

In Baguio City, 5,000 protesters—including students, nuns, clerics and artists—converged on Malcolm Square, denouncing padded flood control projects and other anomalous public works.

Martial law survivor Joanna Cariño highlighted the ongoing threat of Red-tagging and tied the protests to the anniversary of martial law, criticizing President Marcos for continuing systemic corruption.

In Tuguegarao City, about 400 protesters held a parade from Rizal Park to condemn corruption in flood control projects, while Dagupan residents participated in a rosary rally and candlelighting organized by the Parish of St. John the Evangelist in response to Archbishop Socrates Villegas’ call to oppose both a corrupt system and the “corrupt hearts and souls within us.”

In Nueva Ecija, dioceses called on priests and parishioners to pray and advocate against graft, emphasizing that public wealth belongs to the people.

The demand to prosecute and jail those involved in the plunder of government coffers through anomalous or ghost flood control projects also rang in the Visayan cities of Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagbilaran and Tacloban, where thousands, mostly clad in black or white, joined the local version of the “Trillion Peso March” initiated in Metro Manila.

In Tacloban, the home city of resigned Speaker Martin Romualdez, young protesters called for his resignation from Congress over allegations linking him to the flood control scandal.

Protests were also held in Bulacan, Angeles City and Olongapo City, where citizens denounced “mismanagement” in government flood control projects and demanded transparency, prosecution of officials and the recovery of ill-gotten wealth.

Church bells tolled across Batangas in protest, accompanied by prayers for victims and the moral conversion of leaders.

In Legazpi City, thousands joined a Holy Mass and peace walk, chanting against corruption and holding placards in black shirts, while environmental groups in Sorsogon protested harmful government-funded infrastructure projects. Bishop Socrates Mesiona led a prayer and indignation rally in Puerto Princesa City, highlighting the “prevalent intolerable systemic corruption” in the country.

You got to love Archbishop Socrates Villegas who has called on Filipinos to oppose both a corrupt system and the “corrupt hearts and souls within us.” He is condemning everyone  by demanding they remove the plank from their own eye when the focus of the protests is to condemn the contractors, politicians, and bureaucrats who have been plundering the treasury. There is a time and place for self-reflection and this was not it. Villegas is distracting from political accountability.

So, the people are shouting words and carrying signs. Now what? Well, the filing of cases against the corrupt.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2113030/protesters-vow-flood-of-cases-vs-corrupt

Flexing the might of “people power” in rallies held at Rizal Park in Manila and at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters demanded that all those involved in billions of pesos worth of government flood control projects that turned out to be nonexistent or substandard be held accountable.

“Let us flood them with mobilizations, cases until they are all sent to jail, all of them behind this scam. The biggest corruption scandal ever in Philippine history!” Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima told the crowd at the “Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon” rally in Luneta.

She likened the controversy to the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam in 2013, which she investigated as justice secretary under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño also reminded the crowd at Luneta to remain vigilant and to remember “the power we as people hold.”

“We will not stop until we get all of them,” he said. “Everyone who is on top of this ‘tatsulok’ (triangle), we will replace them with the flooded ones.”

“The solution is within us. It’s not in the Senate nor in the House, but it is with the Filipino people,” Casiño said.

Shortly before the Luneta program that started at 9 a.m., chants of “Ikulong na ’yan, mga kurakot (Jail the corrupt)” broke out among the protesters who filled the stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Kalaw Avenue to Katigbak Drive.

Others carried cardboard cutouts of a toothy crocodile and smirking pig—a reference to greedy politicians who pocket taxes—as well as a luxury car to throw shade at contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, who had bragged about owning 40 imported vehicles before they were linked to billions of pesos worth of ghost and substandard government flood control projects.

Present at the rally were veteran activists former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, Makabayan Coalition president Liza Maza, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan president Renato Reyes Jr., among others.

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos, for his part, quoted Psalms 12:5: “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise.”

“We believe that the Church should be here with everyone, along with the youth and the elderly, all other sectors in pushing for justice and accountability,” he said.

Some of the protesters then went to the People Power Monument in the afternoon for the Trillion Peso March protest.

The mass action led by civil society group Akbayan echoed the calls for accountability made at Rizal Park. Among the attendees were Senators Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, former Rep. Erin Tañada, and show biz personalities including Angel Aquino and Jodi Sta. Maria.

In his speech, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Caloocan reiterated his earlier call for those involved in corruption to repent.

“To those who enriched themselves with the people’s money, there is still a chance to return to the good side. It is never too late to be converted; return what is not yours,” said David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. monitored the protests conducted in many areas nationwide, adding that despite calls for his resignation, he is confident of completing his term.

“The President is not afraid that these protests will snowball into his ouster, because he was the one who encouraged the people to go ahead and take their calls out on the streets. He was the one who called on Filipinos to express their anger against all the people involved in the systemic corruption in the government,” Palace press officer Claire Castro told dzMM.

That sounds great but filing cases is not as easy as it sounds. First of all one must have standing to file cases before the court. Second of all one must be able to throughly investigate each individual case of alleged corruption and form an air tight case that proves beyond all reasonable doubt the accused is guilty. And if those two are fulfilled then it all depends on the swiftness of the courts. This includes the timing of the initial case from filing to verdict and the length of appeals during which time any person convicted would likely be out on bail just as Imelda Marcos, though convicted of graft, is out on bail pending appeal since 2018!

The recent flood scandals actually aren't very recent and have been ongoing for decades As noted earlier corruption is an accepted way of life in the Philippines and scandals have come and gone largely with no consequence for those involved despite the loudness of the protests. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2111753/ph-corruption-scandals-no-convictions-jail-time-for-those-involved

The Philippines has long been strained by systemic corruption, with at least 20 percent of yearly government allocations being misused, based on data from the Office of the Ombudsman.

Over the years, no administration has been spared from the stain of the decades-old problem that has always worsened the everyday struggles of millions of Filipinos living a hand-to-mouth existence.

But like how government controversies are met with resistance, corruption scandals have always been denounced – from the NBN-ZTE deal of the Arroyo administration to the anomalous flood control works that was revealed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Perhaps EDSA II which resulted in the ouster of President Estrada is the an exception to the faultily of protests. However, protests against his corrupt successor over the Hello Garci scandal resulted in no action. Despite knowingly being corrupt Arroyo was able to secure a seat in the House after leaving the Presidency which negates the protests against her!

Probably the biggest scandal in recent memory is the PDAF scam. It was revealed that lawmakers had funneled discretionary funds into the accounts of fake NGOs for kickbacks. There was a huge outcry and even a million people march. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_People_March

The Million People March at Luneta was the first of a series of protests in the Philippines calling for the total abolition of the Pork Barrel fund, which were triggered by public anger over the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. Initial calls circulated through social media (mainly on Facebook and Twitter (now X)) to convene a protest on August 26, 2013, at Luneta Park in Manila as well as other cities nationwide and overseas. Some media commentators consider this as the first ever massive rally in the Philippines called and organised mostly through social media channels.

What was the result of this uprising and the subsequent trials? 

The Ombudsman filed charges against senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in June 2014. Enrile, who was accused of getting ₱172.8 million in kickbacks, was charged with 15 counts of graft; Estrada, on accusations that he took kickbacks worth ₱183.793, was charged with 11 counts of graft; Revilla, accused of getting getting kickbacks worth ₱224.5 million, was charged with 16 counts of graft. Enrile's former aide Gigi Reyes was charged with plunder for facilitating the allocation of pork barrel funds to bogus foundations.

In November 2016, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Senator Joel Villanueva after it found Villanueva guilty of "grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service". The dismissal order stemmed from Villanueva's misuse of ₱10 million of his pork barrel funds while he was in Congress representing CIBAC party-list in 2008.

In May 2022, Davao del Sur representative Marc Douglas Cagas IV was convicted by the Sandiganbayan after he pleaded guilty of fraud and falsification of public documents relating to the misuse of ₱13 million of his pork barrel. In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the Ombudsman's ruling of finding probable cause to indict Napoles and DBM officials for graft and corruption for the alleged misuse of Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas's pork barrel.

In January 2024, the Sandiganbayan convicted Jinggoy Estrada of 1 count of direct bribery and 2 counts of indirect bribery in the pork barrel case. He was ordered to pay a fine of ₱3 million and could serve up to 16 years in prison. The Sandiganbayan in its August 22 Resolution acquitted Estrada of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery, based on reasonable doubt. The Sandiganbayan also convicted Janet Lim-Napoles of 7 counts of corruption of public officials and was sentenced to up to 62 years in prison. She was ordered to pay a fine of ₱262 million. Jinggoy Estrada and Napoles were acquitted of the charges of plunder.

In July 2024, the Sandiganbayan convicted 15 former executives of government corporations of graft and malversation of public funds. The convicted officials made irregular disbursements of ₱51 million from the pork barrel funds of Misamis Occidental Rep. Marina Clarete. Clarete, whose pork barrel was released for bogus livelihood projects, has been in hiding and has not faced trial as of 2024.

On October 4, 2024, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Chief Legal Counsel to the President and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, his former aide Gigi Reyes, and Janet Napoles of plunder in connection with the alleged misuse of Ponce Enrile's Priority Development Assistance Fund during his senatorial term.

In April 2025, the Sandiganbayan rejected Jinggoy Estrada's demurrer to evidence seeking to dismiss 11 graft charges against him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel_scam#Trials_and_convictions

While the PDAF system was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court the damage had already been done. Only two lawmakers were convicted in connection with the scam while Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged ringleader, was given a heavy prison sentence. Two of those accused are actually back in the Senate. Bong Revilla was re-elected in 2019 but not in 2025, and Jinggoy Estrada was re-elected in 2022, Joel Villanueva, while ordered to be dismissed in November 2016 was re-elected in 2016 and in 2022.  His suspension remains in effect but the Senate simply does not care. 

However, in addition to the administrative charges, the Ombudsman filed criminal charges against Villanueva in the Sandiganbayan. He was charged with two counts of violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, one count of malversation through falsification of public documents. These charges remain pending until today with no final judgment of conviction rendered.

When the dismissal order was issued against him, Villanueva was elected to the senate on May 9, 2016. Villanueva filed a motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman, claiming he was a victim of identity theft. But he never stepped down from his senate seat. The Senate has neither suspended nor dismissed him.

https://verafiles.org/articles/the-senate-of-coach-joel

The cases against Estrada, Enrile, and Villanueva where filed in 2014 and have yet to be resolved with finality. To make matters worse Senators Estrada and Villanueva have been tagged in the 2025 flood control corruption scandal.

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/senators-joel-villanueva-jinggoy-estrada-tagged-alleged-flood-control-kickbacks-bulacan/

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez tagged Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada in alleged flood control fund anomalies.

Hernandez made this claim on Tuesday, September 9, before the House of Representatives’ infrastructure (infra) committee.

Hernandez alleged that Estrada channeled P355 million worth of projects to Hagonoy and Malolos in 2025, with a 30% “SOP” or kickback. DPWH drivers Christian Santiago and Andrei Balatbat were said to be Estrada’s point persons, under the direction of former district engineer Henry Alcantara.

For Villanueva, Hernandez claimed that in 2023 the senator released P600 million worth of projects in Balagtas, Bulacan, also with a 30% cut. The funds, he said, were delivered to Villanueva’s residence in Bocaue by construction section chief Jaypee Mendoza and Alcantara.

According to Hernandez, Alcantara acted as the “chief implementor” who directly coordinated with politicians. He supposedly took a 3% commission for himself and instructed engineers to tell contractors that an additional 2% “finder’s fee” was needed if they wanted to secure more projects. 

All three of the accused have denied the allegations. They remain innocent until proven guilty but given their track record, you get what you vote for. If voters put the same people back in office, what are they really protesting? Remember when Duterte said anyone with even the slightest whiff of corruption would be gone? 

Interestingly enough the Church thinks the protests were a win. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1259262

A group of Church leaders on Monday expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the previous day's mass demonstrations against corruption, calling it a "miracle" that must be "nurtured."

"It kindles a moral fire in our hearts to eradicate corruption once and for all," Church Leaders Council for National Transformation lead convenor Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said in a statement.

"Let us nurture this miracle until our demands are fully realized. The battle against this despicable evil of corruption shall continue."

On Sunday, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life gathered in different parts of the country, most of them at the People Power Monument in Quezon City and the Rizal Park in Manila, to condemn corruption in the government amid the issue on anomalous flood control projects.

Bagaforo expressed gratitude to those who participated "for standing with us in pursuit of the common good."

Meanwhile, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) thumbed down the call of TV host/comedian Vice Ganda to bring back the death penalty for corrupt government officials.

In a social media post, CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David maintained that the Catholic Church is opposed to capital punishment.

"The answer to corruption cannot be more death but a deeper reform of justice, one that protects the poor and holds the powerful accountable," he said.

In a related development, a parish church in Bulacan said it is set to return a vehicle donated by a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official implicated in alleged irregularities in flood control projects in the province.

The pastoral council of San Pascual Baylon Parish said it would return a pickup truck donated by dismissed DPWH-Bulacan First District engineer Henry Alcantara.

It said the vehicle was received in “good faith” to support pilgrimages of the image of the Virgin of Salambao to different parishes.

“[The vehicle] was given wholeheartedly and we accepted it without judgment on the intent of the donor,” the council said in a statement on Monday.

“We are now undertaking the necessary steps to return it properly to the rightful person or institution, through the appropriate legal process.”

The parish said the decision to return the vehicle was made in line with the guidance of the Diocese of Malolos and the CBCP.

It also apologized to parishioners and the public for any concerns caused, adding that the move reflects the Church’s stand for justice and integrity.

Alcantara has been dismissed from service amid an investigation into the anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan under his watch. 

What miracle is he talking about? That people protested and raised their voices? This has been done before. Most important of all is the return of a truck donated by dismissed DPWH-Bulacan First District engineer Henry Alcantra. It's not clear that the truck was purchased with ill-gotten gains and then donated in some kind of twisted act of penance but it's possible. It goes to show that corruption in the Philippines affects all sectors as ill-gotten gains are spread as largesse to build goodwill and extend influence by crooked politicians. Tainted money flows even into sacred institutions. How much ill-gotten wealth has been tithed or donated to the Church? 

Let's sum up here. Protesting against corruption is futile. These protests are ultimately a safety valve for public frustration, serving to release tension without causing a meaningful shift in the power structure. The people can march and sing and be resolved but if the cases are weak and the courts are slow and the system fails to act then it's pointless. Even more damning, when the people re-elect lawmakers who were involved in corruption that undercuts the protests which were held abasing them. Ultimately the protests of 2025 will bear no fruit and the system will continue as it is. What is needed is an entire overhaul of the justice system, existing laws, and the ethics of Filipinos involved in these situations. 

Filipina Journalist Blames Charlie Kirk For His Own Death And Reviles Him As A Mediocre White Man

Around the world people are mourning the death of Charlie Kirk who was brutally assassinated in Utah as he held a debate with students. At the same time sick people have been cheering his death. Now the Philippine media has added their voice to the discussion surrounding his death. The verdict of the Inquirer is that Charlie Kirk was a mediocre white man who should not be mourned at all.  Here is the full article in case they delete it. 

https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/549703/mediocre-white-men/

So, another mediocre white man has died. The world should shrug its shoulders and move on. After all, Charlie Kirk shrugged his shoulders every time a Black man was suffocated by a policeman’s knee on his neck, every time children were gunned down in classrooms by another white man with a “mental illness,” and every time Palestinians in Gaza were ripped to shreds by Israel using American-made bombs.

For Charlie Kirk was not just a mediocre white man. He was a misogynistic, genocide-supporting, race-baiting, gun rights-loving, LGBTQIA+-phobic, smug white supremacist asshole, with, unfortunately, an influential platform among young white conservatives.

In short, he was the darling of the conservative Right, the symbol of the future of the Republican Party, the white Christian nationalist’s wet dream.

The irony of it all

And now, the world is being ordered to mourn him, extol his specious greatness, and celebrate his uncompromising American values. The president of dog whistles, Donald Trump, ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in the US capital to honor the fall of a man who was, in a supremely ironic plot twist (or perhaps not), a casualty of the very violence he instigated, promoted, and cheered on when directed toward those he and his ilk constantly othered. That very man who was so fiercely protective of his second amendment rights that he justified gun deaths as necessary collateral damage, was taken out by a bullet to his neck in a public space, surrounded by young students.

This was not some school shooting by some disgruntled teenage incel who couldn’t get a date. This was a precise, coldly executed, military-level assassination by sniper fire. By a fellow white person. You know the executioner was white; if they had been any other color, it would have been all over the news, identity immediately revealed, the assassin tarred and feathered (metaphorically, of course), with pundits having a field day bloviating about the death of civility in America, the loss of humanity, and the chasm of racialized hate in society, saying ‘can’t we all just get along?’

These talking points will still be raised, trust me, now that the “evidence” points to an antifa transgender sharpshooter. Allegedly. Yeah, yeah, and the United States waged the global war on terror to bring freedom and democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why was he assassinated and by whom—or perhaps more accurately—why was he sacrificed at the altar of political expedience, are questions that will be speculated upon for days, weeks, and months to come, despite “official” pronouncements. The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, MAGA to the core, has been turned in by his own father. But did he really do it?

No one mourns the wicked

The real question is, however, why some deaths are worthy of mourning, while others are ignored? Who decides who has the right to be mourned, singled out, flags lowered in respect, and who is thrown into the graveyard of anonymity? Why is one white man’s murder of greater value, generating a copious amount of condolences in the form of tweets, news coverage, and social media posts, while the prime minister of Yemen’s assassination by Israel (yet again) is shamefully underreported, much less lamented?

Mediocre white men, I’d hazard a guess. From the same lineage that celebrated the deaths of Black and brown people throughout the centuries. The same people who made a spectacle of the lynching of Black men. Their Sunday entertainment, so to speak, followed by church, like the “exemplary” Christians they were.

In her novel “Half of a Yellow Sun,” Chimamande Ngozi Adiche writes of an exchange between Olanna and her Black American friend, Edna. ‘“You know what always amazed me?” she asks Olanna, as if she had not told her a day previously. “That civilized white folk wore nice dresses and hats and gathered to watch a white man hang a black man from a tree.”’

Kirk’s is not a death to celebrate, I agree. Neither is it one to eulogize with exaggerated praise. I take no pleasure in his murder, though I must admit I would cackle with glee every time he parked himself in front of young leftists in his signature “debate me” format—only to see his racist, self-righteous, and often cruel arguments upholding white supremacy and the myth of American greatness be demolished by kids with deeper intellects and sharper critical thinking skills who understand the intersectionality of all the issues we face in the world today.

But I’m not going to do a Terrance Hayes, the American poet, who wrote a sonnet about another mediocre white man that begins:

“Glad someone shot deserved to be shot finally,

George Wallace. After you send your basket of balms

And berries for the girls the bomb buried in Birmingham,”

Sadly, mediocre white men may well be the Western world’s largest, most insidious, and most toxic export. One merely has to observe the utter lack of quality in many of our elected officials to realize that mediocrity serves the status quo (and enriches them in the process).

I know all about mediocre white men. I dated quite a few of them. I even married one.

The author of this article is an ignorant woman named Bambina Olivares. Interesting that she calls Charlie Kirk a mediocre white man, says such men are toxic, and then admits she married one. 

She says she is not going to celebrate his death but that's exactly what this article is. It is self righteous paean against a man she hates and against values she despises. Charlie Kirk was a Christian and her opposition to those values as she uplifts the LGBTQIA+ community reveal her to be nothing more than an antichrist. 

In her racist ignorance she thinks Charlie Kirk is being mourned because he is a mediocre white man adored by other mediocre white men but the the fact is people around the world of every race are mourning him. There was nothing mediocre about Charlie Kirk. The man dropped out of college and founded a political organization that has become one of the most important of our time, Turning Point. He did that at age 18. For 13 years Charlie grew his organization by traveling the USA debating college students and setting up chapters of his organization. All he did was speak and listen and for that he was assassinated. Bambina lies when she claims that he instigated violence. Charlie did no such thing. 

Charlie Kirk's death is not the death of a random mediocre white man. It is the deliberate silencing of an exceptional man for nothing more than his opinions. It is a heinous act of censorship and political violence against a very influential and important political organizer. It is the rotten fruit of years of hatred and invective from the left which the world witnessed last year when Trump was almost assassinated in Butler, PA and the same people celebrating the death of Charlie were angry the shooter missed. She even dares to blame Charlie for his death!! 

"to honor the fall of a man who was, in a supremely ironic plot twist (or perhaps not), a casualty of the very violence he instigated, promoted, and cheered on when directed toward those he and his ilk constantly othered. "

This article is disgusting, defamatory, and is imbued with the same spirit that decided Charlie Kirk had to go. Perhaps the Inquirer will issue a retraction and an apology. But I doubt it. 

Chinese Nationals Elected to High Office In The Philippines

The situation regarding Alice Guo is indicative of a much larger problem. To refresh, Guo is a Chinese national who moved to the Philippines at a young age. Somehow she fraudulently obtained a Philippine birth certificate and was able to avail of all the benefits of Philippine citizenship. That included running for and winning the office of Mayor of Bamban. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian says the nation's civil registry system must be overhauled to prevent this from ever happening again. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1253786

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to overhaul the country’s civil registration system to prevent foreign nationals from fraudulently acquiring Philippine citizenship, following the controversial case of former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping.

“We want a new CRVS system so there won’t be another Alice Guo — someone pretending to be Filipino just to enter government and deceive people," Gatchalian said in a news release Tuesday.

The lawmaker filed the proposed Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act, which seeks to establish a modern and streamlined registration system to accurately determine an individual’s identity for administrative and legal purposes.

The measure raises penalties for forging civil registry documents, providing false information during registration, and aiding the production of fraudulent records.

Gatchalian cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicating that, as of November 2024, at least 1,627 suspicious birth certificates tied to foreign nationals have been flagged, with 18 cases endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General for cancellation.

A recent court ruling found Guo to be “undoubtedly Chinese,” reinforcing concerns over gaps in the country’s identity verification systems.

The bill is part of a broader effort to protect national security and uphold the integrity of public service, Gatchalian said.

“We must ensure that only legitimate Filipinos have access to public office and government benefits,” he said.

The civil registry system is very prone to abuse with 1,627 suspicious birth certificates tied to foreign nationals being flagged. Another problem is the lack of birth certificates by legitimate citizens. Many Filipinos are not registered at birth. The whole CRVS system is definitely in need of being overhauled. 

Unsurprisingly it turns out the situation with Alice Guo is not singular. Joseph Chua Cua ran for mayor of Virac, Catanduanes in the 2025 elections and was recently disqualified due to questions over his citizenship. He is a former governor of  a former governor of Catanduanes and a former mayor of San Andres.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1254161

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) 1st Division has disqualified Joseph Chua Cua from the May 2025 midterm elections due to unresolved issues surrounding his citizenship, even though he lost in the race for mayor of Virac, Catanduanes.

In a 10-page decision promulgated on Friday and released to the media on Saturday, the Comelec granted the petition for disqualification filed by reelectionist Sinforoso Sarmiento, who alleged that Cua is not a Filipino citizen but a Chinese national, rendering him ineligible to run for public office.

Cua, a former governor of Catanduanes, lost to Sarmiento.

“Accordingly, the Petition for Disqualification is granted. Respondent Joseph Chua Cua is hereby disqualified as a candidate for municipal mayor of the municipality of Virac, Catanduanes,” the ruling stated.

The poll body noted that Cua failed to correct or clarify his citizenship status in official documents. His Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) birth certificate shows he was born in San Andres, Catanduanes, on Oct. 16, 1962, but his prolonged absence from the country and inconsistent residency claims cast doubt on his qualifications.

“Upon calculation, and assuming that Respondent was a resident of the Philippines since birth, he should have been a resident herein for 62 years and six months on the day before the 12 May 2025 NLE (National and Local Elections). However, as it appears, Respondent has been conspicuously absent for one year in the Philippines, something which he failed to explain. This gap in Respondent's residency casts doubt on his compliance with the residence requirement of his derivative naturalization,” the Division said.

It further cited discrepancies in Cua’s residency declarations. While claiming to have lived in Virac for more than 61 years, Cua previously served as mayor of his birthplace, San Andres, from 2001 to 2004.

“It would be mathematically impossible for him to reside in Virac for 61 years and six months while serving as mayor of another municipality,” the Comelec stated.

“This raises even more serious questions regarding the respondent's eligibility to run for any local elective position.”

The poll body pointed out that possessing an identification certificate or being recognized by certain agencies as a Filipino does not conclusively establish citizenship.

“Exercising rights exclusive to Filipinos does not automatically make one a citizen,” it added, stressing that further credible evidence was lacking.

Where was the examination of Cua's citizenship during those previous elections? Perhaps there were no warning signs that would prompt anyone to look. The Comelec needs a complaint in order to investigate a candidate. 

The dismissal of Guo and Cua due to being Chinese nationals raises troubling questions. How many more Chinese nationals occupy high office in the Philippines? Why is this happening? Is this a coordinated effort by the Chinese Communist Party to undermine the Philippines? If that is the case then much more than revamping the CRVS system needs to be done.