Hope against hope, and ask till ye receive. — Scottish poet James Montgomery
Before moving on to our topic for today, let me share this post from a netizen:
I was struck by Joey De Leon’s simple but piercing reminder, “Kung may matutulungan kayo, unahin niyo muna ang magulang niyo. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit kayo nandito…”
In a world that often teaches us to chase success for ourselves, we forget the first people who quietly sacrificed theirs for ours.
The ones who skipped meals so we could eat, who hid their tears so we could dream, who carried burdens so we could run free.
To honor our parents is not just about obedience, it is gratitude in action. It is remembering that before we could stand, they knelt. Before we could soar, they carried our weight on their tired shoulders.
And maybe this is what true success looks like, not just reaching the top, but looking back to lift up the very hands that once lifted us.
Because at the end of the day, the best gift we can give our parents is not riches, not fame, not medals, but love repaid in the form of care, honor and presence.
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THE flood control ‘scam’ was actually first uncovered in 2018 when then-House Majority Leader Rolando Aureo ‘Nonoy’ Andaya Jr. discovered an allocation of hundreds of billions for nnon-existent’ flood control projects during the first three years of the Duterte administration.
Andaya started his exposè after Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson’s alleged that then Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) got PhP2.4 billion in ‘pork barrel’ funds while the Bicolano congressman got P1.9 billion. Both denied the allegations.
At that time, the Bicolano solon from Camarines Sur also accused then budget secretary Benjamin Diokno of “inserting” billions of infrastructure funds in the proposed national budget.
Sad to note, though, there was no conclusion in Andaya’s exposè, as he eventually died on June 30, 2022. Shockingly, he was found dead inside his house in with a bullet wound to his head. The regional police report did not call it a suicide case but local authorities in Naga City declared it was an alleged “suicide incident.”
Knowing this, it’s apparent that then President Rodrigo ‘Rody’ Duterte ignored the Telltale Signs of corruption and sad to note, the disinterest over the issue continued on with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr (PBBM).
Still, we have to give it to our Ilocano chief executive as he has now focused on the problem: “Mahiya naman kayo.”
And now, the Office of the Ombudsman has announced that it has uncovered a paper trail and bank transactions linking several high-ranking government officials to the anomalous flood control projects, now being investigated by the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure created by PBBM.
According to newly installed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla, his office is now preparing to file “many” cases before the Sandiganbayan.
This is what majority of Filipinos are waiting for—a situation verbally expressed by Remulla’s ‘katukayo (namesake)’ Quezon City Fourth District representative Jesus Manuel Angel ‘Bong’ Suntay at the National Press Club’s Meet the Press media forum last Tuesday, October 14.
Remulla disclosed that they have already obtained a substantial amount of data, which continues to come in gradually, that clearly shows money being transferred from one account to another, not in cash, but through bank-to-bank transactions, which is why the new anti-graft chief believes they have solid evidence.
The former justice secretary added that his office has also sought the help of the Anti-Money Laundering Council in the preparation and filing of these “big cases.”
Prior to this, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon had turned over five cases covering reported ghost flood control projects in Bulacan. These cases involve officials from Bulacan’s district office and contractors who may have committed violations under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (malversation), Article 171 (falsification by public officers), Article 183 (perjury), and Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
Looking at all these developments, we now feel a little more faith in the seriousness of President Marcos Jr. in addressing the problem of corruption and in going after those involved in the siphoning of more than one trillion pesos, they say, of public funds.
Desiriously, we hope this would happen.
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