The real mastermind of corruption

Professor Randy David tried to dissect the conclusion of Senate blue ribbon former chair Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s report that the current flood control investigation was a “replica” of the Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal masterminded by Janet Lim Napoles in 2013, but on a bigger scale, but that this current corruption has no “overall mastermind.”

I beg to disagree with this conclusion. The “current mastermind/s” are the Filipino people. Corruption will not happen if we all go back to the basics like honesty, service, and love of country, and for the government officials, statesmanship. These principles must be taught early in school and reinforced by the community and religious groups.

I am not a sociologist or a psychologist, but there is a unique Filipino word, “hiya,” which according to AI Overview, “is a core Filipino value often translated as ‘shame’ or ‘embarrassment.’” It more accurately represents a deep sense of propriety, social grace, and respect—“inner moral compass.” If almost everybody will practice “hiya,” there will be no corrupt government officials; if they were corrupted, they will not run for any elective office and no Filipino voter will vote for any corrupt official. It is a shame that even officials found guilty of corruption are even voted back into office because of the electorate being “bought” with some pesos, gifts, or favors.

David concluded that there was no mastermind in the recent corruption and also “no one in charge of resolutely protecting the system of governance from being corrupted.” My simple answer, the Filipino people. Another reminder from our parents and elders, “Hindi ko papakainin ng nakaw ang pamilya ko. (I will not feed my family with stolen money.)”

God bless and help the Filipino people.