PEOPLE are free to live as they want. If they work hard, they are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their diligence. This is especially poignant if they came from humble roots, with hardly an access to education, networks, and other opportunities. Those who dreamed of a comfortable life for their families are also entitled to give them that – and do not owe anyone an explanation.
There is a distinct line, however, between those enjoying a measure of comfort because they toiled fair and fought hard, and those who did so as a result of manipulation, deceit, or corruption.
These days, the Filipino people are training their collective anger at those in a position to do something about flooding in many parts of the country. Because it is the rainy season, and because global warming has given way to more intense and more frequent weather patterns, more and more Filipinos’ homes get submerged in floodwater, endangering lives, livelihoods, and property.
The disruption and danger are untold.
And now we find that the government has been funding projects designed to prevent these exact scenarios. There are flood control projects all over the country, all appropriated for in the national budget. Unfortunately, the projects take the usual turn of not being as effective as envisioned. Corruption at every stage and on every level eats away at the money such that very little is left to ensure that the project is accomplished with good quality, if they are even completed or begun at all.
Meanwhile, we hear about the ostentation of some individuals who are unabashed at their material advantage. They flaunt their lifestyles and are proud of the good life they are leading.
There has been no direct link between public funds and these individuals’ extravagance – not yet, at least. But as investigations continue, the public will get a clearer picture of the likelihood that hard work was not the primary reason these individuals are enjoying their lifestyle.
The flaunting is infuriating, indeed, but we must not let our outrage end in the luxury cars or expensive designer items. We should follow this issue to its end – in the identification of the faux public servants who swore to champion their constituents’ interests, filming of cases against them, conviction and jail time is warranted. The private individuals who benefited from colluding with these officials must be punished commensurate to their participation, of course, but they did not have public mandate, they did not swear to do good by the people, and are not accountable in the same way as public officials are.
The public will find a measure of comfort only when the guilty are punished and when the hypocrites are unmasked and held accountable for their actions.
