Unless those involved in the “Floodgate” scandal self-inhibit and the Senate leadership comes clean about allegations of compromise, the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on 19 January will have no intrinsic value.

The public seeks clarity from the investigations into the unprecedented theft by the supposed guardians of public funds, which, by some estimates, reached P1 trillion in three years, but thus far, they have gotten only layers of stonewalling to cover up for the real masterminds.

The investigations by the Senate, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and even the Office of the Ombudsman are designed to run after the scapegoats rather than end the schemes that engender systemic corruption.

The Congress hearings were particularly absurd, as those implicated in the anomalies were the very ones questioning witnesses while using the platform to defend themselves.

The public will soon be treated again to the probers ganging up on witnesses to clear them of involvement in the grand thievery.

A veteran lawyer said there is no formal rule requiring recusal in such cases, making the issue one of delicadeza, a quality many lawmakers clearly lack.

A reasonable requirement would be for the elected officials to follow the example of several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who returned the fruits of their corruption.

Despite being named as the proponents of the pork projects, no legislator has returned any corrupted funds, hoping to maintain the continuing cover-up.

The coming proceedings will also examine the so-called Cabral files, which allegedly detail the “allocables,” or budgetary earmarks, linked to influential political figures, but even the Senate leadership has said these should not be given any weight.

Thus far, the documents have been downplayed rather than carefully examined against DPWH records, which is only logical.

The ICI, in its death throes, was exposed as one of the smokescreens used to protect the untouchables, and it had lived up to its subservience to Malacañang, which created it.

Since the President appointed its members, the body could be easily swayed or ignored.

Most favorable actions taken by the government were a result of pressure and protests by the public, rather than a genuine reform agenda.

Public discontent remains constant as the corruption and impunity have not been addressed.

Attempts to obfuscate the issues through sham probes are provoking even greater public backlash.

The demand is for real accountability, requiring that all influential figures be held to account.

The budget manipulation, patronage, and Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA), which are the tools that sustain the rot in the system, continue to exist.

Thus, the mass protests must continue and the public must continue asserting its power by reminding officials that they are paid by — and are accountable to — the people.

The plunder of the budget must also be paid for, and those responsible, particularly the ringleaders in spreading the rot in government, must suffer the consequences of their crimes against the people.

The tools for propagating the corruption must also be dismantled, lest an outraged nation remove the causes of the dysfunctional administration.