The Committee on Finance (Subcommittee) meets to discuss the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and attached agencies | Screengrab from YouTube
Philippine Congressional hearings, past and present, have always been full of controversy and theater. The one constant is the tilt of the questioning and the targets. Corruption is undoubtedly a favorite topic—all in aid of legislation, at least on the surface. Recent hearings have added new dimensions in light of the scandals involving Philippine Overseas Gaming Operations (POGO) and alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) revolving around the war on drugs. Corruption is not to be overlooked as it pertains to confidential funds.
Given these inquiries by the Senate and the House of Representatives, one would likely expect a slew of new legislation or at least amendments to existing law, enough to fill the Congressional dockets for the foreseeable future.
This column is not intended to target any personalities. Instead, it will follow the milieu of seemingly unending debate and discern the direction of potential legislation, wherever those may lead.
The reader is asked to consider what loopholes exist in existing law, such as lack of deterrence and weaknesses in enforcement mechanisms. These issues should be the core concerns of legislators if only to render meaning and value for all the time and resources devoted to the process—not the usual grandstanding and step-stone tendencies.
Which brings us to the historical patterns that become obvious – panapanahon lang nga ba?
Testimonies are not only manipulated but also coerced. The same testimonies are later retracted, and precisely opposed versions are provided. Denials are issued in the public arena instead of sworn statements and affidavits in the committee hearings. Any claim of lack of culpability from those sought for inquiry rings hollow. Common sense dictates that the innocent would not hesitate to face allegations if the truth is on their side; in fact, the guilty avoid any venue anytime, anyhow.
There must be adherence to correcting the wrongs and restoring and protecting what is right. There need not be any invocation of tradition, separation of powers, executive privilege, or any misuse of those constitutional provisions, only to ignore the fundamentals of why those provisions exist.
“The severest civil forfeiture legal remedies must be added to existing law – civil forfeiture provisions that confiscate 100% of the traceable wealth of the offenders plus 75% of the wealth of their immediate family members such as the spouse and offspring and at least 50% of all the wealth of relatives …”
The severest civil forfeiture legal remedies must be added to existing law – civil forfeiture provisions that confiscate 100% of the traceable wealth of the offenders plus 75% of the wealth of their immediate family members such as the spouse and offspring and at least 50% of all the wealth of relatives by consanguinity or affinity to the third degree. Violators of anti-corruption measures would be the first to protest these forfeiture rules. Honesty among government servants, their families, and friends is not needed, nor will they fear these severe confiscatory provisions.
On the other hand, whistleblowers should be offered a minimum of Php1B for any information that results in the conviction of would-be plunderers.
This is a small amount in the context of the annual Philippine national budget, which is now a staggering Php6.353T, yes, with ‘T.’
Any public office disqualification should be lifetime, excluded from executive clemency, and extended to relations by consanguinity or affinity to the third degree.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration regulations should require basic proof of income for any name to be added as an incorporator or nominal shareholder.
Any offer of money rewards for law enforcement in the killing of suspects should be the minimum of Php1B in exchange for ironclad evidence of orders handed from top brass, including the President of the Republic of the Philippines, plus early retirement with the rank of Brigadier General and accompanying pensions.
Filipinos are descendants of the ‘makapili’ and the ‘encomiendero’. These hard-coded DNA traits permeate the psyche, are on full display in their daily lives, and are widely accepted as ‘kalakaar.’ Even the lingering refusal to institute trial by jury is a glaring manifestation of such encoding. While it is encouraging that serendipity has occasionally granted Philippine history the rare patriot at key moments of its floundering republic, these patriots remain so few and far between—truly weather weather lang.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Crispin Fernandez advocates for overseas Filipinos, public health, transformative political change, and patriotic economics. He is also a community organizer, leader, and freelance writer.
