If Not Now, When: Corruption, Impeachment, Accountability, and the West Philippine Sea in a Time of Crisis

*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM

I remember one late afternoon at a small place called Inopia Eatery in Modesta Village. It was one of those ordinary spots—manufactured chairs, simple tables, the quiet sound of utensils, and the heavy silence of people thinking more than talking.

Sa isang sulok, nandoon si Meynard, isang jeepney driver. Nakaupo siya mag-isa, nakatingin sa kanyang plato. Isang ulam, hinahati-hati niya, parang sinusukat kung paano ito pagkakasyahin sa gutom at sa budget. Paminsan-minsan, tinitingnan niya ang kanyang kamay—parang iniisip kung magkano pa ang natitira, kung sapat pa ba ang kita niya para sa susunod na pasada.

Bigla siyang napabuntong-hininga at marahang nagsabi, “Ang mahal na ng diesel… hindi ko na alam kung kikita pa ako bukas.”

Walang drama. Walang sigaw. Pero ramdam mo—yung bigat ng realidad.

At habang siya ay kumakain nang tahimik, may tanong na hindi niya kailangang sabihin pero malinaw mong maririnig:

Bakit parang kami na naman ang kailangang mag-adjust?

Because if we do not talk about corruption in the middle of a crisis, when will we?

Gusto kong linawin nang malinaw—hindi ako anti-government, hindi ako anti-President, at hindi rin ako pro-impeachment. My position is not anchored on personalities or political camps. I stand firmly as anti-corruption and pro-accountability. Sapagkat para sa akin, ang tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan ay hindi pananahimik—ito ay ang tapang na itama kung ano ang mali.

Let us talk about corruption—not as a slogan, but as a lived reality. Corruption is not an abstract concept. Ito ay nararamdaman sa bawat litro ng diesel na hindi na kayang bilhin ni Meynard. It is felt in every peso that fails to reach the people who need it most. Every peso lost to corruption is a peso taken away from fuel subsidies, social protection, education, and economic stability. Habang ang mamamayan ay nagtitiis, may mga pondo na dapat sana’y tumutulong—ngunit nawawala. At kung hindi natin ito haharapin ngayon, kailan pa?

Now, let us confront the issue of impeachment. Hindi ito dapat gawing drama ng politika, at hindi rin dapat gawing sandata ng kapangyarihan. Impeachment is a constitutional process—not a political weapon. Ngunit hindi rin ito dapat katakutan o iwasan kung may malinaw na batayan. It is not about removing a person—it is about upholding the principle that no one is above the law. Kaya malinaw ang paninindigan—hindi ako pro-impeachment, ngunit ako ay pro-truth. Kung kinakailangan ang proseso upang ilabas ang katotohanan, hindi ito dapat pigilan. Kung wala namang basehan, hindi rin ito dapat abusuhin. The issue is not impeachment itself—it is integrity.

Then comes accountability—the backbone of governance. Without accountability, systems collapse quietly. Kung walang pananagutan, ang krisis ay nagiging paulit-ulit na siklo. Flood control projects get funded, yet communities still drown in floods. Budgets are approved, yet services remain inadequate. This is not just inefficiency—this is failure of accountability. At habang ang mamamayan ay hinihingan ng sakripisyo, hindi ba’t mas nararapat lamang na ang pamahalaan ay managot sa bawat pagkukulang?

At dito lalong lumalawak ang usapin—ang West Philippine Sea.

Because national sovereignty is not separate from governance—it is a reflection of it. Paano natin ipaglalaban ang ating karagatan kung ang ating sistema ay may kahinaan? How can we defend what is ours externally if internally we tolerate corruption and weak accountability?

Habang ang mga mangingisda ay nawawalan ng access sa sarili nating karagatan, habang ang kanilang kabuhayan ay unti-unting nawawala, this is no longer just a territorial issue—it is a human issue. It is about dignity, livelihood, and national identity. And if resources meant to protect them are not properly utilized, then we are failing not only in governance—but in sovereignty.

Hindi dapat tumigil ang paghahanap ng hustisya dahil lamang sa may krisis sa gasolina. In fact, mas lalo itong dapat paigtingin. Because crises expose the cracks—and it is our duty to repair them, not ignore them.

Kung may dapat higpitan, hindi ang sinturon ni Meynard—kundi ang sistema ng pananagutan.

Kung may dapat bantayan, hindi lang presyo ng diesel—kundi ang bawat sentimo ng pondo ng bayan.

Because silence, in times like this, is not neutrality—it is surrender.

Sapagkat kung hahayaan nating manahimik ang usapin ng corruption, impeachment, accountability, at ang West Philippine Sea ngayon, kailan pa natin ito haharapin? Kapag mas malala na ang krisis? Kapag mas marami nang tulad ni Meynard ang nawalan? Kapag mas kaunti na ang natitira sa atin?

Hindi tayo dapat umabot sa puntong iyon.

So let this be clear:

Hindi tayo laban sa pamahalaan.

Hindi tayo laban sa Pangulo.

Hindi tayo pro-impeachment.

Ngunit hindi rin tayo bulag.

We are against corruption.

We stand for accountability.

At handa tayong ipaglaban ang tama—para kay Meynard, para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino, at para sa ating bayan.

Because the strength of a nation is not measured by silence—but by the courage to confront the truth.

At kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?

#DJOT

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*About the author:

Dr. Rodolfo “John” Ortiz Teope is a distinguished Filipino academic, public intellectual, and advocate for civic education and public safety, whose work spans local academies and international security circles. With a career rooted in teaching, research, policy, and public engagement, he bridges theory and practice by making meaningful contributions to academic discourse, civic education, and public policy. Dr. Teope is widely respected for his critical scholarship in education, management, economics, doctrine development, and public safety; his grassroots involvement in government and non-government organizations; his influential media presence promoting democratic values and civic consciousness; and his ethical leadership grounded in Filipino nationalism and public service. As a true public intellectual, he exemplifies how research, advocacy, governance, and education can work together in pursuit of the nation’s moral and civic mission.

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