Morning Coffee Thoughts

19/10/2025

Ok. But to me, that ship has sailed.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that there is still a possibility that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson could return as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

READ MORE: https://inqnews.net/Lacsonmightreturn

19/10/2025

This one took a while to write—too many sources to read and put together. I actually almost abandoned it.

I’m dedicating this piece to the students who’ve been required by their professors to read Morning Coffee Thoughts. Thank you for being here.

I’m sorry you have to sit through a long read, but I promise it’ll be worth your while. (Seventeen minutes lang naman.)

You’ll probably notice that some of what’s written here shows up in my daily posts—small pieces of thought that I’ve been trying to make sense of, one morning at a time. This essay is where those fragments finally come together.

It looks at how critical thinking shaped, escaped, and might still save the Filipino mind—through history, philosophy, and the digital noise we now call home.

A deep dive into the state of critical thinking in the Philippines: how it was born, buried, and can still be reborn. Through history, philosophy, and digital life, this piece connects the dots between our education system, cultural habits, and the way truth now struggles to be heard.

19/10/2025

Lord,

We lift up every Filipino in the path of the storm—those whose homes stand in flood-prone places, and those still trembling from the earthquake’s aftermath.

Please spare our people from harm. Calm the winds, soften the rain, and steady the ground beneath us.

Grant comfort to those who have lost much, and strength to those helping them rebuild. May we find hope in the hands that reach out to us, and courage in the hearts that refuse to give up.

We pray that our leaders act swiftly, not just with words, but with compassion and resolve. Teach us, Lord, that real change comes not from promises but from action.

Amen.

18/10/2025

Late post, but worth it.

We stayed at Hotel Seoul in Clark Freeport a while back, and they gave us the whirlpool bath suite.

Not exaggerating—it felt more like a private apartment than a hotel room.

Leather recliners, a wide bed, and a bathtub right in the middle of the living area. It’s the kind of setup that makes you cancel plans just to stay in.

Even the lighting had this quiet, moody tone that made the place feel calm after a long drive.

The bathroom looked like it belonged in a movie—round tub, clean tiles, glass doors, and space to breathe.

You could tell the place was designed for comfort, not just for photos.

It’s a little late to post this, but good stays deserve to be remembered.

Thanks, Hotel Seoul, for the warm service and that room I still think about sometimes.

18/10/2025

Coat of the they.

18/10/2025

Me (habang nagsasampay): Ano kaya mag open din ako ng Morning Coffee Thoughts North America at Morning Coffee Thoughts Europe.🤔

Other me: Ayan ka na naman. Morning Coffee Thoughts Philippines nga halos di mo na maharap, dadale ka ng dalawa pa? Tigil-tigilan mo yang kahibangan mo.

😅🤣😄

18/10/2025

I wrote this piece months ago. It's patterned after Abraham Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs.

The idea came to me while eating a bowl of lechon kawali pares (very healthy for someone with a heart condition) near Freedom Park in Cabanatuan.

I overheard a conversation that made me pause, think, and eventually write.

It’s one of my least-read articles. But that’s fine. It was written for those who actually want to understand.

Right now, I’m working on something new — a piece about critical thinking in the Philippines. The idea struck me while I was in the shower, using Dove Men+Care. (Sabi ko na nga ba, dapat Heno de Pravia na lang ginagamit ko. Dove Men+Care makes you think too much.)

Anyway, the question started simple: Why is critical thinking dying in the Philippines?

But as I soaped up, another question came: Was it ever really alive here?

That’s where this new piece is headed — into the roots of critical thinking, its history, its champions, and its absence in our own story. It’s long. Probably too long. But I’m writing it anyway.

I was told that some students from UP and other schools are now being asked to read Morning Coffee Thoughts. So, this one’s for you.

For now, while I finish my new piece — and while doing the laundry, because it’s Saturday and the sun’s out — check out this older article.

Discover how Filipinos argue online through five psychological levels of discourse, from tribal loyalty to critical thinking, and why it all matters today.

17/10/2025

[TOPIC REQUEST] Is Mayor Benjie Magalong Clean? A Complicated Political Portrait

Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong’s public image as an anti-corruption crusader has earned him respect, but it’s also raised questions.

His record is full of real battles against corruption, yet his silence on certain political figures leaves doubts about consistency and loyalty.

🟥 His Record of Exposing Corruption

Magalong has shown genuine courage throughout his career.

As a retired PNP official, he led the Board of Inquiry that investigated the 2015 Mamasapano massacre, which left 44 SAF commandos dead.

His report named then-President Benigno Aquino III for violating the chain of command.

Later, he went after PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, presenting proof that Albayalde shielded officers involved in a 2013 drug recycling case.

In 2025, he again took center stage—this time exposing corruption in flood control projects, which he described as a “cottage industry” run by corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, and contractors.

He even hand-delivered documents to President Marcos detailing irregularities in multi-billion peso infrastructure deals.

🟥 Legal Battles and Ombudsman Clearances

As Baguio mayor, Magalong has faced multiple graft complaints. Yet the Ombudsman has repeatedly cleared him.

In 2023, former City Councilor Mylen Yaranon accused him of pushing through a P95-million land purchase in Tuba, Benguet without proper approval.

The Ombudsman dismissed the case for lack of probable cause. He was also cleared in another complaint tied to a DPWH-funded building project handled by a questionable contractor.

🟥 The Credibility Problem: Duterte Ties and Selective Silence

This is where it gets uncomfortable. Magalong’s critics often point to his loyalty to the Dutertes and his reluctance to name names.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes once said Magalong told him who was behind the P36-billion rock-netting scam in Baguio and Benguet—but that was back in 2022.

Three years later, the public still hasn’t heard those names.

Allegations suggest the people involved include B**g Go and Rep. Eric Yap, both known Duterte allies.

Magalong has openly said he owes B**g Go a “great debt of gratitude” and still praises Duterte, describing him as “very genuine” and lauding his “transparency.”

Whenever pressed to reveal those behind the scam, Magalong dodges the question.

VERA Files described him as “selective,” favoring investigations led by Duterte allies like Rodante Marcoleta, who conveniently skipped projects tied to Duterte’s administration.

Their conclusion was sharp: “At his worst, he is not a truth-seeker because of his bias for Duterte and his tendency to obstruct justice.”

🟥 ICI Resignation and the Conflict-of-Interest Issue

Magalong’s stint with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) lasted less than two weeks.

He resigned on September 26, 2025, claiming that Palace statements had “undermined his mandate.”

But the timing raised eyebrows.

His exit came right after Malacañang looked into a possible conflict of interest—a P110-million tennis court and parking building in Baguio allegedly linked to the Discaya family, who were central to the flood control scandal he was investigating.

Rep. Terry Ridon didn’t mince words, calling Magalong “hypocritical” for keeping quiet about that link while condemning others for similar actions.

🟥 Local Governance: Progress and Pushback

Since becoming Baguio mayor in 2019, Magalong has won re-election twice and co-founded the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) alliance with Pasig’s Vico Sotto and other reform-minded leaders.

Still, locals have grown critical.

Many complain about worsening traffic, weak infrastructure progress, and controversial development projects tied to the Villar family that led to deforestation.

Some residents also note that accessing documents from his office isn’t easy, accusing the city government of lacking transparency.

🟥 His Past: The 2006 Coup Attempt

In 2006, Magalong was arrested for taking part in a coup attempt against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He spent three months in jail before being cleared of rebellion charges.

That incident revealed a man willing to act against perceived abuse, even if it meant risking his career.

🟥 The Verdict: Principled but Politically Bound

Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, who once worked with Magalong at the DILG, described him as a “principled man” who wouldn’t accuse anyone of corruption without proof.

The Tribune praised him for embodying the PMA values of “Courage, Integrity, Loyalty,” adding that no one has ever legally challenged his corruption exposés—suggesting there’s truth behind them.

Still, there’s a visible pattern.

Magalong speaks firmly against corruption under the current administration but stays quiet on the Duterte-era cases he supposedly knows well.

He calls for transparency while his own city office faces criticism for being opaque.

So, is he clean?

Legally, yes—the Ombudsman says so.

Personally, there’s no proof he’s pocketed public money.

But politically, his silence weakens his credibility.

He preaches accountability yet avoids confronting his political patrons. That silence speaks volumes.

Magalong doesn’t fit neatly into any box.

He’s neither the spotless reformer some believe him to be, nor a traditional crook.

He’s a man shaped by conviction, limited by alliances, and caught in the gray area of Philippine politics—where principle and politics rarely stay separate for long.

🟥 SOURCES:

1. Benjamin Magalong, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Magalong
2. "Clean mayor" vs. mga kongresista? Rep. Richard Gomez ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZUYzZnA5XY
3. Richard Gomez vs Benjie Magalong? Fix your own city before ..., https://politiko.com.ph/2025/08/19/richard-gomez-vs-benjie-magalong-fix-your-own-city-before-accusing-congressmen-of-corruption-leyte-rep-says/headlines/
4. Baguio comes first: Benjie Magalong quits in middle of ..., https://politiko.com.ph/2025/09/27/baguio-comes-first-benjie-magalong-quits-in-middle-of-corruption-probe/headlines/
5. What is Benjamin Magalong really fighting for?, https://verafiles.org/articles/what-is-benjamin-magalong-really-fighting-for
6. Mayor Magalong alleged discovery during ICI investigations, https://kami.com.ph/politics/179921-mayor-magalong-alleged-discovery-ici-investigations-lahat-sila-korap/
7. Graft charges filed vs Baguio Mayor Magalong over ..., https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/12/23/2320958/graft-charges-filed-vs-baguio-mayor-magalong-over-housing-project-land-purchase
8. Mayor of Baguio, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Baguio
9. The 3 untold secrets of Benjamin Magalong, https://verafiles.org/articles/the-3-untold-secrets-of-benjamin-magalong
10. Ombudsman junks graft charges vs Magalong over ... - News, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2080670/ombudsman-junks-graft-charges-vs-magalong-over-dpwh-financed-project
11. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong exposes corruption ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw8U30QodsY
12. Curious case of Benjamin Magalong, https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/18/curious-case-of-benjamin-magalong
13. Headstart: Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6vFQhOIgD0
14. Magalong resigns as ICI special adviser, https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/magalong-resigns-as-ici-special-adviser-2258
15. Trillanes Challenges Magalong to Expose Lawmakers ..., https://www.reddit.com/r/pinoy/comments/1mvfry0/trillanes_challenges_magalong_to_expose_lawmakers/
16. Puno believes Magalong has evidence ready to back claims, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2094823/puno-believes-magalong-has-evidence-ready-to-back-claims
17. Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong resigns as ICI special ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3lTE5Ki58
18. Trillanes, kinuwestiyon si Magalong sa pagigin silencio ..., https://legazpi.bomboradyo.com/trillanes-kinuwestiyon-si-magalong-sa-pagigin-silencio-suboot-sa-p36b-rock-netting-scam/
19. Trillanes criticizes Magalong's anti-corruption crusade, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA5MVT50lq8
20. Magalong is a die-hard Duterte supporter. : r/baguio, https://www.reddit.com/r/baguio/comments/1nnd4km/magalong_die_hard_duterte_supporter/
21. Scared or just loyal to Duterte? Trillanes dares Magalong to ..., https://politiko.com.ph/2025/09/10/scared-or-just-loyal-to-duterte-trillanes-dares-magalong-to-name-benguets-p36-b-rock-netting-scam-culprits/snitch-network/
22. WATCH: Duterte allies, Baguio City Mayor Magalong bare ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9hXjx4bhYc
23. Magalong says he has Duterte's 'full support' amid ..., https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/10/05/19/magalong-says-he-has-dutertes-full-support-amid-allegations-vs-pnp-chief
24. Ombudsman clears Magalong in another graft rap over land ..., https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2082405/ombudsman-clears-magalong-in-another-graft-rap-over-land-deal
25. CORRUPTION, GOOD GOVERNANCE & FUTURE OF ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7qv7qMIsuI
26. WATCH: Baguio City Mayor Magalong on 'Mayors for Good ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXtSnQNzUC8
27. Ombudsman clears Magalong in another graft rap over land ..., https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2082503/ombudsman-clears-magalong-in-another-graft-rap-over-land-deal-2
28. Magalong on corruption: 'Silence should no longer be an ..., https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/13/magalong-on-corruption-silence-should-no-longer-be-an-option-1944
29. Magalong asks for reopening of Mamasapano probe, says ..., https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/714702/magalong-asks-for-reopening-of-mamasapano-probe-says-ex-pnoy-liable-for-saf-44-deaths/story/
30. Drug recycling: Albayalde has a lot to explain – Magalong, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1172306/drug-recycling-albayalde-has-a-lot-to-explain-magalong
31. Mark Villar denies DPWH graft link, https://tribune.net.ph/2025/10/02/mark-villar-denies-dpwh-graft-link
32. Full report: The Mamasapano incident - News - Inquirer.net, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/678685/full-report-the-mamasapano-incident
33. Magalong: Albayalde is lying over role in 2013 Pampanga ..., https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1175694/magalong-albayalde-is-lying-over-role-in-2013-pampanga-drug-raid
34. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong Resigns as Adviser to ..., https://www.filipinoreporters.com/post/baguio-city-mayor-benjamin-magalong-resigns-as-adviser-to-independent-commission-for-infrastructure
35. Mamasapano clash, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamasapano_clash
36. Albayalde directly implicated in drug recycling scandal, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkZreqiaWjI
37. Magalong says LGUs not informed on infra projects | ANC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59M_gEApp9E
38. 'Lessons, takeaways from Mamasapano incident', https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/29/2240996/lessons-takeaways-mamasapano-incident
39. Ex-PNP chief Albayalde, 13 pa pinakakasuhan ng DOJ ..., https://www.bomboradyo.com/ex-pnp-chief-albayalde-13-pa-pinakakasuhan-ng-doj-dahil-sa-2013-drug-recycling-scam
40. Baguio Mayor Magalong submits documents to Marcos on ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzpaNteKzHA
41. SAF 44 gallantry did not go in vain: Magalong, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059933
42. De Lima offers prayers for Aquino, Magalong amid 'ninja ..., https://web.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2019/1010_delima3.asp
43. Magalong gets emotional over SAF 44, recalls pressure ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnguOjl9Vg
44. Mayor: Tap former court, PNP execs in infra probe - News, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2097400/mayor-tap-former-court-pnp-execs-in-infra-probe
45. Magalong resigns from ICI | Morning Matters, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBBndkItOsw
46. 'No selective justice in Duterte administration', https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/24/1586378/no-selective-justice-duterte-administration
47. Castro fires back at Magalong: 'Do not sow controversy ..., https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/9/castro-fires-back-at-magalong-do-not-sow-controversy-without-evidence-1528
48. Baguio Mayor Magalong ready to lead probe on alleged ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibV4v1-PvXc
49. Mayor Benjamin Magalong on fighting corruption in gov't ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A7vg39TLgk
50. That's why I really doubt Benjamin Magalong. : r/pinoy, https://www.reddit.com/r/pinoy/comments/1n8vkfs/kaya_duda_talaga_ako_kay_benjamin_magalong/
51. Magalong's resignation from ICI 'not what Marcos Jr. wanted', https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/5/magalong-s-resignation-from-ici-not-what-marcos-jr-wanted-palace-1221
52. Magalong on ICI resignation: I chose to protect the integrity ..., https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/27/magalong-on-ici-resignation-i-chose-to-protect-the-integrity-of-fight-vs-corruption-1109
53. Mayors for Good Governance, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayors_for_Good_Governance
54. Is Mayor Benjie Magalong a Viable Candidate for the ..., https://www.nipino.com/is-mayor-benjie-magalong-a-viable-candidate-for-the-presidency
55. Cash Netting, Pockets Full: This lawmaker linked to public ..., https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1mvgq9e/cash_netting_pockets_full_this_lawmaker_linked_to/
56. Memorandum of Understanding between Mayors for Good ..., https://quezoncity.gov.ph/memorandum-of-understanding-signing-with-mayors-for-good-governance-m4gg-and-independent-commission-for-infrastructure-ici/
57. Emerging alternative leaders - Inquirer Opinion, https://opinion.inquirer.net/168803/emerging-alternative-leaders
58. Thank you for the non-answer, Mayor Magalong!, https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1nhgnn5/thank_you_for_the_nonanswer_mayor_magalong/
59. Mayors for Good Governance - Anti-corruption hotline, https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/16/-we-need-whistleblowers-mayors-for-good-governance-opens-anti-corruption-hotline-and-portal-1411
60. Push for good governance 'nothing to do with politics, 2028 ..., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEKTFa-98ZM
61. Mayor Magalong interview Karen Davila : r/Philippines, https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1npi4w8/mayor_magalong_interview_karen_davila/
62. cruzkaren53 - Lala, https://x.com/cruzkaren53?lang=en
63. Antonio Trillanes IV - POLITIKO, https://politiko.com.ph/tag/antonio-trillanes-iv/
64. Arroyo Widens Purge of Suspected Coup Plotters, https://www.arabnews.com/node/281119
65. Benjamin Magalong - ADB Knowledge Events, https://events.development.asia/author/benjamin-magalong
66. Flood control projects controversy in the Philippines, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_control_projects_controversy_in_the_Philippines
67. 4 senior SAF officers charged with misconduct, face dismissal, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2006/03/28/328521/4-senior-saf-officers-charged-misconduct-face-dismissal
68. 2006 state of emergency in the Philippines, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_state_of_emergency_in_the_Philippines
69. Baguio mayor Magalong says willing to lead probe into ..., https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/magalong-willing-to-lead-probe-into-highly-syndicated-flood-control-mess-1030
70. Magalong refutes Albayalde: I cannot recall asking him for 'favor', https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1172453/magalong-refutes-albayalde-i-cannot-recall-asking-him-for-favor
71. PNP's Benjamin Magalong bows out of service | Inquirer News, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/853580/pnps-benjamin-magalong-bows-out-of-service
72. PNP Director Benjamin Magalong retires after 38 years in ..., https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/592461/pnp-director-benjamin-magalong-retires-after-38-years-in-service/story/

17/10/2025

Who was it that said never interrupt your enemies when they are making a mistake? Napoleon, I think.

He’d have enjoyed watching this one.

This Sara Duterte — she’s a lawyer, right? She passed the bar, right? Right?

I ask because for someone who’s a lawyer, her blunders are spectacular.

Every time she opens her mouth, she cross-examines herself.

She trips, intentional or un, revealing more than she should.

🟥 THE ACCIDENTAL CONFESSION

Sara Duterte stood before reporters, ready to defend herself from allegations of misusing confidential funds.

Instead of clearing her name, she managed to peel back the curtain on the very corruption networks that flourished during her father’s presidency.

It was meant to be an explanation. It turned into a confession delivered live, with conviction and PowerPoint-level detail.

🟥 THE CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS MYSTERY

For months, the Vice President refused to answer questions about the ₱612.5 million in confidential funds split between the Office of the Vice President (₱125 million) and the Department of Education.

Whispers of fictitious recipients—names like “Mary Grace Piattos”—and incomplete liquidation reports worth ₱254 million refused to die down.

Cornered by impeachment proceedings, she finally gave in on October 14, 2025, during a Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

There, she claimed the DepEd funds were used to investigate “rampant corruption” inside the agency.

In her own words:

“There were many reports of corruption inside the Department of Education, not just in the central office but also the regional offices. So whenever there are reports, we will investigate and one of those we investigated was the laptop deal.”

🟥 THE NAME THAT CHANGED THE STORY
She didn’t stop there. She named names.

Out of nowhere, she dropped the line that changed everything:

“Sunwest ang contractor ng laptop doon sa DepEd. Kung talaga seryoso ang Ombudsman sa pagiimbestiga, imbestigahan din nila yung laptop corruption scandal ng Department of Education, nandoon si Zaldy Co.”

Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co. A name that, in political circles, carries a scent of public contracts and government partnerships dating back to the Duterte years.

His company, Sunwest Construction, wasn’t just a player—it was a recurring presence in project ledgers from 2016 to 2022.

🟥 PANDEMIC SIDE PROFITS

Under Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Sunwest bagged ₱1.32 billion in pandemic-era contracts through the Bayanihan program—right around the time Pharmally became the poster child of pandemic profiteering.

The odd part? Sunwest is a construction company.

Yet somehow, during the height of lockdowns, it was delivering medical supplies.

Between March 2020 and September 2021, the company ranked among the top ten suppliers of pandemic contracts.

A “Triple-A” construction firm suddenly found itself in the health business.

The joke wrote itself, but the profit margins didn’t laugh.

🟥 FLOOD CONTROL, FLOOD OF CASH

Sunwest didn’t stop at masks and test kits. From 2016 to 2025, it landed ₱86.1 billion worth of contracts, nearly half of them in the Bicol Region.

Between 2022 and 2025 alone, Sunwest and its sister companies—Hi-Tone Construction and FS Co Builders—secured ₱15.7 billion in flood-control projects.

Senator Panfilo Lacson once estimated that close to ₱1 trillion had been lost to anomalous flood-control projects over the past decade, with over half of that happening under Duterte’s presidency.

But sure, tell us again about fighting corruption.

🟥 THE LAPTOP DEAL THAT WOULDN’T DIE

Let’s return to the laptops—the supposed reason behind Sara’s spending.

The Commission on Audit flagged the ₱2.4 billion procurement in 2021 for laptops priced at ₱58,300 each, running on outdated Intel Celeron processors.

It was all part of the DepEd’s rush to transition to online learning.

The only thing fast in that story was how the prices inflated.

In July 2025, the Ombudsman charged former DepEd and DBM officials for the overpriced deal.

The purchase happened in 2021, right in the middle of Rodrigo Duterte’s term—before Sara ever set foot in the Education department.

🟥 THE BOOMERANG MOMENT

What started as a defense of confidential spending turned into an accidental excavation of her father’s legacy.

Analysts didn’t even have to dig. She did the digging herself.

She publicly confirmed that her confidential funds were used to investigate corruption tied to contractors who flourished under her father’s administration.

She didn’t just fire an arrow; she launched a boomerang.

And it came back carrying receipts.

🟥 THE “SELECTIVE INVESTIGATION” DEFENSE

After realizing what she had just said, Sara tried to pivot.

She accused the Marcos administration of conducting “selective” corruption investigations.

"So bakit specific ‘yung pag-iimbestiga? Bakit hindi iniimbestigahan lahat ng corruption scandal?”

That line might have worked—if it didn’t also confirm that there were indeed scandals worth investigating from the Duterte years.

You can’t call something “selective” unless there’s a buffet of wrongdoing to select from.

🟥 WHEN TRANSPARENCY TURNS INTO TESTIMONY

Sara Duterte wanted to look transparent.

She wanted to show she had a reason for the ₱612.5 million she couldn’t fully explain.

What she actually said was this:

1. Corruption was widespread enough in government agencies that she needed secret funds to investigate it.

2. Her investigations pointed to contractors that benefited directly during her father’s term.

3. Those same contractors were tangled in multiple scandals that began under Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency.

That’s testimony delivered under the illusion of control and transparency.

So, thank you, Sara? 🤷‍♂️

🟥 THE AFTERMATH

The timing couldn’t have been worse.

Rodrigo Duterte was already facing ICC scrutiny for his drug war.

Sara, meanwhile, was fighting for her political survival amid impeachment proceedings.

The more she talked, the more her words aligned with her critics’ claims: that the Duterte era wasn’t just about strong leadership—it was also about strong connections, strong contracts, and strong denials.

🟥 THE IRONY

She meant to justify her spending.

She ended up mapping out a corruption trail that circles back to her father’s presidency.

The contractor she named—Zaldy Co—wasn’t just a coincidence.

He was the thread that, once pulled, unraveled years of “nothing to see here.”

🟥 THE FINAL LINE

Sara Duterte wanted to appear accountable.

Instead, she turned herself into Exhibit A.

Her attempt at clarity became a public outline of how power, privilege, and profit intertwined under the very government she’s trying to defend.

When a Duterte claims to be investigating corruption, it’s wise to sit back and listen carefully.

The truth has a habit of slipping out between the talking points.

🟥 SOURCES:

1. The P612.5-million question - https://opinion.inquirer.net/185306/the-p612-5-million-question
2. Sara Duterte's corruption case, a crushing blow to education - https://www.ibon.org/sara-dutertes-corruption-case-a-crushing-blow-to-education
3. VP Sara confident she won't be implicated in flood control scandal - https://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/vp-sara-confident-she-wont-be-implicated-in-flood-control-scandal/
4. Sara Duterte confident she won't be implicated in flood control scandal (GMA News) - https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/962654/sara-duterte-confident-she-won-t-be-implicated-in-flood-control-scandal/story/
5. Sara Duterte, State Witness Against Her Father? - https://thechronicle.com.ph/sara-duterte-state-witness-against-her-father/
6. VP Sara says gov't 'selective' on corruption probe; Palace refutes - https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/vp-sara-says-gov-t-selective-on-corruption-probe-palace-refutes-1820
7. Dutertismo: Hijacking good governance - https://opinion.inquirer.net/185609/dutertismo-hijacking-good-governance
8. VP Sara: I won't ask Marcos help for interim release of ex-pres Duterte - https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/962526/vp-sara-i-won-t-ask-marcos-help-for-interim-release-of-ex-pres-duterte/story/
9. Sara Duterte shuts down corruption links: No flood control projects, no budget insertions - https://politiko.com.ph/2025/10/17/sara-duterte-shuts-down-corruption-links-no-flood-control-projects-no-budget-insertions/headlines/
10. Sara hits back: Investigate all, not just my father - https://tribune.net.ph/2025/10/15/sara-hits-back-investigate-all-not-just-my-father
11. Duterte says DepEd confidential funds spent on corruption probe - https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2125869/sara-duterte-says-deped-confidential-funds-spent-on-corruption-probe
12. VP links Zaldy Co to DepEd laptop mess - https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/10/16/news/national/vp-links-zaldy-co-to-deped-laptop-mess/2201576
13. Duterte implicates Zaldy Co in DepEd laptop procurement anomalies - https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/duterte-implicates-zaldy-co-in-deped-laptop-procurement-anomalies
14. Five Reveals from the Flood-Control Data - https://pcij.org/2025/08/31/5-reveals-from-the-flood-control-data
15. Pharmally leads 10 firms that got biggest pandemic contracts - https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/14/2134161/pharmally-leads-10-firms-got-biggest-pandemic-contracts-group-says
16. Pharmally, 29 other firms bagged 42% of P65-B pandemic supply projects - https://pcij.org/2021/10/15/pharmally-other-firms-bagged-p65-billion-pandemic-supply-projects
17. The congressman and the billions: Tracing the power of Zaldy Co - https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2111062/the-congressman-and-the-billions-tracing-the-power-of-zaldy-co-2
18. Zaldy Co - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaldy_Co
19. DOJ seeks Interpol help to track down Zaldy Co - https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2116146/doj-seeks-interpol-help-to-track-down-zaldy-co
20. P1B in suitcases to Zaldy Co has Pinoys calling it a 'real-life math problem' - https://interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2025/09/23/302490/p1b-suitcases-zaldy-co-pinoys-calling-real-life-math-problem/