The Tamesis
January 14, 2026
Manila – Corruption is now a major problem in our public life. Another Pulse Asia poll last December showed that 94% of Filipinos believe corruption is common, with 71% saying it is “very common.” These numbers are not just numbers; they are numbers. They are a popular opinion. Citizens now view corruption not just as a recurring problem but as a disease that affects the entire system, taking away resources, slowing progress and undermining confidence in the institutions that are supposed to protect the public interest.
The extremely public fight between Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Imee Marcos highlights how bad political theater is for real accountability. Lacson’s use of the so-called “Cabral dossier” to show that Senator Marcos railed against “allocation” in state spending plans while loudly criticizing “soft pork” shows the double-edged dangers of partisan bickering: It confuses the public, discredits real whistleblowers, and makes it easier for patronage networks to hide behind the noise. Add to this the horrific trends of missing witnesses, defendants changing their minds at the last minute, and reparation rituals that don’t really deliver justice, and you get a system that favors delays and punishes telling the truth.
To be fair, things have improved: prosecutors are now pursuing corruption and robbery charges, and judges are detaining more defendants without bail in important cases. But progress is no excuse for laziness. History shows how quickly investigations can collapse. Evidence goes missing, witnesses are frightened or silenced, and political pressure changes the rules until the case disappears. The difference between a public show and true accountability is the speed, independence and publicity of investigations and prosecutions.
The Ombudsman, the Ministry of Justice and the Independent Infrastructure Commission must act quickly, but they must also adhere to due process rules. Investigations should be expedited, evidence should be made public when it makes sense, and formal charges should be brought immediately against anyone actually accused, regardless of their political party affiliation or surname. They protect those who do bad things when investigations are delayed or unclear.
Following the money is equally important. The Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Customs, Anti-Money Laundering Council, banks and overseas diplomats must work together to find, freeze and recover stolen property. This is high levels of corruption and limited bank secrecy, strong AML committee powers and a mandated asset recovery office are the only viable options for returning stolen resources to the people.
The requirement is clear and cannot be changed: the judiciary, from the RTC Executive Judge, the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court, must be free of corruption as they are responsible for these matters until the problem is resolved. People want courts to convict those who steal public funds. Senators, members of Congress, contractors, DPWH officials, and collaborators must face the full force of the law, which includes jail time. This is not revenge; this is not revenge. This is justice. It’s also the only real way to win the public’s trust and ensure that state funds flow to schools, hospitals and roads rather than corporate interests.
The Filipino people are awakened and angry. 94% of people who think corruption damages government don’t want political drama; they want quick, fair and visible accountability. Institutions need to respond to this demand immediately.
Malicious smear campaign against Senior Citizens Party-list and Rep. Rodolfo Ordanez
Recent social media leaks and headlines claiming that the Senior Citizens Party List and Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanez somehow benefited from the false “Cabral Papers” insertion are more than just hasty reporting. This was a dangerous attack on reputation, carefully planned and disguised as news. These accusations are absurd on their face. To suggest that a party list specifically targeting the elderly would be interested in or benefit from the insertion of flood defense projects strains credence and exposes the weakness of the allegations as evidence.
Let me make it clear: this is a malicious smear campaign for political purposes. The timing, the anonymity of the sources and the lack of verifiable provenance all point to the cynical efforts of those seeking to discredit legitimate citizen representatives through innuendo and fabricated scandals. Political actors who weaponize uncorroborated documents to grab headlines are using dirty tricks to erode public trust and distract from real oversight and accountability. The burden of proof lies entirely with the accuser. Rep. Ordanez and the Senior Citizens Party-list, like all public servants, are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven otherwise through a competent, transparent investigation.
Strengthening Malacañang’s legal team
Talk of a cabinet reshuffle has been circulating. But beyond changes at the secretarial level, insiders also hinted at purported plans to strengthen Malacañang’s legal bench. One of the candidates for a key position in palace legal circles is a long-time lawyer and civil society advocate, according to reliable palace sources. The nominee is said to be an abogado de Campanilla (AC) whose credibility is known not through grandstanding but through sharp constitutional thinking, discipline and a consistent record against corruption.
Drawing on decades of involvement in the reform community, faith groups and governance advocates, the nominee blends legal precision with ethical foundations. Allies say that background may be just what the presidential office needs to beef up the government’s legal team, given the president’s anti-corruption campaign.
If confirmed, the move could mean more than just routine personnel changes. Observers see this as a deeper shift toward merit-based appointments and more inclusive hiring practices under President Marcos Jr. For now, the name remains strictly reserved, but rumors suggest the appointment could come sooner than later – fueling speculation that something meaningful is quietly taking shape.
