Breathe more fire

In a scene straight out of a Charlie Chaplin slapstick movie, the culprits were shown profusely applauding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for taking a dig at the endemic corruption in government during the State of the Nation Address (SoNA).

In his fourth SoNA, Mr. Marcos assumed a character different from the docile leader the people were accustomed to as he addressed corruption involving government officials and members of Congress.

He issued strong warnings and demands for accountability, focusing particularly on flood control projects, rebuking corrupt officials, stating, “Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino” (Have some shame towards your fellow Filipinos).

The President’s emphasis on flood control projects indicated a reference to the wheeling and dealing that occurred in the bicameral conference committee for the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) which resulted in a bicam report pockmarked with blank items.

The blanks were later mysteriously filled in the enrolled bill, indicating the dark influence of the pork barrel.

Billions of pesos worth of insertions were alleged, with P142.7 billion supposedly intended for allies of the Senate leadership.

In the 2025 outlay, the President, using his veto power, removed P16.7 billion worth of items related to addressing floods.

The vetoed items mainly were not included in the President’s budget or the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Offering a standing ovation on steroids at the SoNA were the proponents of the budget’s mangling.

And in the 2024 budget, many of those in the audience had a hand in inserting P26 billion for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) on top of the usual embedded pork.

However, it has been the flood control projects that have become the favored source of discretionary funds.

President Marcos vowed an audit and performance review, promising that charges would be filed against the guilty officials and contractors in the coming months.

“The people need to know the whole truth, and there has to be accountability for the corruption and the damage,” the President said.

He also warned Congress that he would veto a proposed 2026 national budget that is not aligned with his administration’s priorities as reflected in the National Expenditure Program, even if it means a reenacted budget.

His stress on corruption-spiked flood control spending indicated a symbolic direction for the remaining three years of his term toward efforts to stamp out corrupt practices.

The misuse of public funds meant for flood mitigation, driven by greed and a lack of accountability among officials and contractors, has long been a concern that the public has associated with the ways of government.

The SoNA captured the public’s attention as the usual eloquent English of the President, associated with the elite, was replaced with words that most Filipinos can understand.

President Marcos vowed to conduct audits, take legal action, and implement stricter budget oversight to address the systemic plague, which remains to be seen.

Public skepticism accompanied the high praise poured on the speech, which was described as pro-people.

Thus far, the image that the President has conveyed has indicated a sheer lack of decisiveness that should be dispelled.

The next three years could unveil a Bongbong Marcos who will forge a powerful legacy of principled, transformative governance, which has long been absent.

Or it may falter. The outcome hinges on the President’s bold actions, which have already shattered past expectations.