The scale of corruption in the current dispensation makes those previously investigated pale in comparison, a former Cabinet official intimated to Nosy Tarsee.
A political analyst said when President Estrada was charged, the total amount filed against him was P4 billion in suspected jueteng funds and the Muslim Youth Foundation infusions.
He was directly implicated, however, in the tobacco excise tax funds that amounted to P140 million, which resulted to his conviction.
During the second term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the case brought against her stemmed from the use of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s intelligence fund — money that did not originate from her office. Prosecutors cited handwritten notes attributed to Arroyo regarding the use of intelligence funds, which served as the basis of the P366-million case filed against her.
That case against Arroyo was eventually dismissed.
Compare that to the scale and amount of money involved in the anomalies under the Marcos Jr. administration where even at the level of a District Engineer, the suspected money stolen is in the billions of pesos.
When they returned money, it was P100 million, from a District Engineer.
The source was referring to former Department of Public Works and Highways District Engineer Henry Alcantara, who recently turned over P110 million to the Department of Justice.
This is widespread and organized corruption, the political pundit said.