Marcos asks Pinoys to join fight vs corruption

HEROES IN THE FLESH War veterans attend an event commemorating National Heroes’ Day led by President Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday. This year’s theme, “Isang Diwa, Isang Lahi, Isang Bayanihan,” highlights the bravery of Filipino heroes, both known and unsung, who fought for freedom and dignity. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

President Marcos on Monday rallied Filipinos to fight corruption as he vowed to hold accountable the government officials and private individuals behind the anomalous public works projects being investigated by his administration.

Departing from his usual practice of honoring ordinary citizens, the President used this year’s National Heroes’ Day commemoration to urge Filipinos to join him in his latest campaign to weed out unscrupulous people in government.

“It is not only strengthening our defense that we must focus on to safeguard our freedom. We must also fight the threat of corruption and the abuse of power in our society,” he said in his speech at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

“Because what they steal is not only money, but also the health, dreams, and future of the next generations of Filipinos,” he added.

Mr. Marcos warned that even the smallest acts of dishonesty and abuse of power should not be ignored or taken lightly.

Threat to society

“For if we repeatedly let them pass, they will gradually destroy our society without us even realizing it,” he said.

“Let us work together to fight corruption. Let us fight the abuse of power. Let us resist the trampling of our rights. For this is the only way we can achieve a more prosperous, more just, and stronger Bagong Pilipinas,” he added.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address last month, President Marcos condemned the collusion between public officials and contractors in stealing government funds through flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He has ordered an investigation after he revealed on Aug. 11 that P100 billion, or about 20 percent of the entire P545-billion budget for flood mitigation projects undertaken by his administration from July 2022 to May 2025, was awarded to only 15 out of 2,409 contractors.

He urged the public to report to him all anomalous DPWH projects in their communities, admitting that the government alone could not check each one.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez also issued a similar call on the same occasion as he urged Filipinos to continue fighting corruption, injustice and indifference to honor the sacrifices of national heroes.

Romualdez likewise recognized the quiet sacrifices of countless Filipinos, whom he said also made this freedom possible.

“We remember that freedom was never given to us lightly. It was fought for, defended, and won through the blood, sweat, and tears of those who came before us,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“That is why we cannot allow corruption, injustice, or indifference to undo the gains our heroes secured. To do so would be a betrayal of their memory,” he added.