“How can they demand accountability from others when they themselves have yet to answer for their own betrayals of public trust?“
FROM where I stand, the latest political storm stirred by certain members of the House of Representatives is nothing more than a desperate diversion. The issue, for me, is clear: those now pointing fingers at Malacañang are the very same individuals whose own corruption and failures have long burdened the Filipino people.
Instead of cleaning their own ranks, they attack the Executive Secretary and the Cabinet. I believe this is a classic tactic – hoping to distract the public from the rot festering within their own institution.
At the center of their baseless accusations is Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, a man I have known to be synonymous with integrity.
A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, his service has always been guided by law, fairness, and a staunch defense of democratic institutions. To malign him is not just an insult to his office; it is an insult to the very ideals of good governance that we all should be striving for.
The Cabinet’s official statement said it best, and I stand by its most pointed reminder: “Clean your house first.”
How can they demand accountability from others when they themselves have yet to answer for their own betrayals of public trust?
I am convinced that no investigation will bear fruit if lawmakers refuse to confront the corruption within their own chamber.
This controversy must not derail the larger vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
His call is simple: honest leadership in service of the Filipino people. That is what the Executive Branch is delivering. Those who wish to sabotage this effort are not just undermining the President – they are betraying the nation.
For me, the fight is bigger than personalities or political factions. It is about protecting the integrity of our government from the corrosive games of those who seek to cling to power by spreading lies.
The Filipino people deserve leaders who stand for truth, not political theater.
In this battle, I know where I stand: with the Executive Secretary and the Cabinet, on the side of justice, integrity, and the Filipino nation.
(The author, who holds a doctorate in philosophy, is Chairman Emeritus of four civic-oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement.)
