SoNA — So now what | Daily Tribune

At the Department of Justice (DoJ), we greet President Marcos’ fourth SoNA with a sense of renewed resolve and purpose. The President’s clarion call against corruption — especially in flood control projects — struck a chord deep within our institutional mission. His forceful exhortation, “Mahiya naman kayo,” underscored a non‑negotiable commitment to accountability. It challenges us to step up to the plate, to wield the law with fairness, vigor and compassion.

In the President’s address, we heard a strong emphasis on anti‑graft measures, water security, climate resilience, public health and infrastructure reforms. These are not just talk — they are mandates to justice agencies to act swiftly and decisively. We welcomed his promise to file charges within the month against those implicated in flood control mismanagement — legally, ethically, morally. It’s the DoJ’s role to turn that promise into reality, to ensure due process for the accused and timely redress for the victims.

Our personnel — inspectors, prosecutors, investigators — are reinvigorated by the leadership’s call to audit and prosecute public officials who betrayed the trust. The DoJ recognizes the tremendous responsibility placed upon us: to uphold the law without fear or favor, to reinforce the principle that public office is a public trust, and to ensure that accountability is visible not only in speeches but in court dockets and verdicts.

But beyond enforcement, the President’s vision aligns with our deeper purpose: to foster a culture of legality where every Filipino can see justice in action. His goals of economic resilience, education expansion, free online processes, climate preparedness — all rely on a justice system that is predictable, transparent and fair.

We are inspired by the promise of improved police visibility and faster emergency response coordination across LGUs — a landscape where the rule of law supports peace, order, and citizen protection. The DoJ must work hand in hand with the DILG and PNP to ensure that these systems are undergirded by legal frameworks and oversight mechanisms that guard against the misuse of authority.

At the same time, we remain mindful of what was unsaid in the speech — such as pertinent issues around online gambling regulation and unaddressed political friction — but from our vantage, these omissions highlight the space where we must remain vigilant, impartial, and ready to address whatever legal matters emerge in response to the public concern.

To our justice officers nationwide: take heart. The SoNA was more than a speech — it was a beacon calling on you to bring courage to your prosecutorial work, integrity to your investigations, and empathy to your service.

Let us show to every citizen that justice is not a distant concept but something they experience with every court filing, every investigation, every verdict.

Let this moment renew our promise: to uphold the Constitution, to hold wrongdoers accountable, and to safeguard the dignity and rights of every Filipino. In the President’s vision of a nation that is resilient, inclusive, and upright, the DoJ has a central role. Let us seize it — with determination, professionalism and unity.