Recently, in a point-point canteen with a drop-coin karaoke machine in San Mateo, Rizal, my daughter Juliana Rizalhea and I were having dinner when I witnessed a man singing confidently. He held the microphone as if he were on a concert stage, his head high and his voice full of conviction. Yet despite his confidence, his singing was painfully out of tune. The mismatch between his self-assurance and his actual performance was striking. It reminded me so much of politics—where some speak with boldness, even arrogance, but the substance of their words and actions falls flat. In public life, confidence without truth is noise, and leadership without integrity is nothing more than performance.
This thought came back to me as I considered the unfolding of the flood control scam investigation, now under the watch of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Here, at last, is a leader who understands that the microphone of public trust cannot simply be held by those who sing the loudest; it must be carried by those who can deliver truth with discipline and integrity. Lacson has long proven himself as fearless in exposing corruption and unafraid to stand against abuse of power. With him at the helm, the flood control scam probe carries the credibility that has so often been missing in past investigations.
For years, the scandal has been painted as the fault of contractors and dummy corporations, with mid-level operators serving as convenient scapegoats. But the Filipino people are not easily fooled. Billions of pesos in anomalous projects could not have flowed without powerful names behind them. The Discayas, whose companies have already been linked to flood control projects, are now at the center of this storm. And the lingering question remains: will they finally reveal bigger players, perhaps even senators, who may have benefited from this grand scheme?
The possibility is now very real. If the Discayas decide to name names, it could expose the uncomfortable truth that the very institution tasked to guard public funds may have been compromised from within. Yet fairness also requires us to accept another outcome. If no senators are named, then perhaps none were truly involved, and suspicion must end there. The problem, however, is that perception has already poisoned public trust. In the minds of many Filipinos, it is almost taken as fact that senators had a hand in the scam.
I myself have heard it countless times, in conversations at coffee shops and even during jeepney rides. Ordinary people shake their heads and ask, “Kung walang senador na kasali, bakit parang hindi makausad-usad ang imbestigasyon?” (If no senator is involved, why does the investigation seem to stall?) This constant doubt reveals a deeper problem: the erosion of faith in our democratic institutions. When people believe that cover-ups are inevitable, even when proof has yet to surface, then legitimacy itself is at risk.
This is why Lacson’s role is critical. His record of exposing anomalies, from the pork barrel scams to unexplained wealth of public officials, proves that he does not shy away from battles against corruption. Under his watch, the Discayas will either be forced to speak with honesty or be exposed for evasion. If names are revealed, the nation will know the truth it has long suspected. If none are named, then that too must be made clear so the nation can move forward.
But Lacson cannot stand alone. The support of the new Senate leadership under Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is just as vital. Sotto’s steady hand, his ability to unite the chamber, and his commitment to transparency provide the environment necessary for the Blue Ribbon Committee to do its work without interference. His leadership ensures that the investigation is not sidetracked by politics, that the committee is given full backing to follow the evidence wherever it leads. Without the Senate President’s trust and support, even the bravest committee chair can be undermined. With Sotto’s cooperation, however, truth stands a real chance of breaking through the shadows.
The flood control funds were meant to protect communities from destruction, not to line the pockets of the greedy. The scam has left our people vulnerable to floods and calamities while enriching a few. This betrayal cannot be washed away by scapegoating minor players. Accountability must reach the top, wherever the evidence leads.
As I reflect, I return to that karaoke singer—so confident, yet so out of tune. In the same way, there are those in politics who speak boldly, projecting authority, but whose actions betray the people’s trust. What we need are not performers but leaders who can stand in tune with truth and justice. In Senator Lacson’s Blue Ribbon leadership, supported by the steady guidance of Senate President Tito Sotto, there is hope that the noise will be silenced and the melody of accountability will finally be heard.
In the end, the people deserve clarity. If senators are
involved, let their names be revealed. If not, let suspicion be put to rest.
But let there be no more cover-ups. Only truth, sung with courage and in
harmony with justice, can restore the trust this nation so badly needs.
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