Pinoy Newspaper (2025)

07/11/2025

By Nikko A. Balbedina III

PressOne.PH

Celebrity gossip has emerged as a key tool in the disinformation playbook, with social media channels using showbiz chatter to distract from and distort information about the Senate’s investigation into the flood control fiasco.

Why it matters: In a political culture where celebrities have also entered public office, showbiz rumors can easily spill into the political arena, damaging reputations and undermining the credibility of legitimate government work.

What we found: Following President Ferdinand “B**gbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address where he mandated an audit of all flood control projects, PressOne.PH has been tracking several social media channels involved in spreading news-cycle disinformation.

As of this writing, PressOne.PH has collated nearly 2,000 videos from Tiktok and 700 videos from dubious YouTube channels spreading unverified information related to the flood control issue.

Some 300 of the videos collected from these platforms falsely reported marital dissolutions between politicians allegedly involved in corruption and their showbiz spouses.

False reports of a breakup between actor-turned-congressman Arjo Atayde and noontime show host Maine Mendoza emerged after Atayde was accused of soliciting money from contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya.

Actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista has also been falsely reported to have left her husband ex-Senate president Chiz Escudero.

An absurd claim of a secret wedding between Vice President Sara Duterte and Escudero has also surfaced.

False breaking updates are warping the news cycle

Fake ‘Marcoleta ambush’ report circulates online, pins blame on Sotto

YouTube disinformation campaign inflates Marcoleta’s persona with imagined debate wins

What’s new: On Nov. 3, ex-TV host Anjo Yllana went live on social media with bomb-shell allegations against his former noontime show co-host Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. His accusations include:

Sotto allegedly hiring “fake vloggers” to attack Yllana online.

Since 2013, Sotto has supposedly had an affair with a woman whom he also “shared” with his brother, veteran actor Vic Sotto.

Eat Bulaga, where Tito and Vic Sotto and actor-host Joey de Leon are the main hosts, was allegedly run like “a syndicate.”

The pattern: Multiple YouTube channels and Tiktok accounts, some previously flagged for spreading disinformation online, were quick to republish snippets of Yllana’s livestream.

Since Nov. 3, more than 250 videos have surfaced on YouTube, with some reaching more than 450,000 views.

Most of the channels involved in the campaign have either previously posted content in support of the Dutertes or have explicitly identified themselves as pro-Duterte.

The thumbnails used by these videos often include buzzwords and heavily edited images of Sotto’s face showing exaggerated expressions to capture viewer attention by capitalizing on a comedic effect.

On Tiktok, nearly 150 videos have been monitored with some having more than 2.5 million views.

The videos also drew comments from users commending the former host for his pro-Duterte statements, with some supporting Yllana who hinted of running for senator in 2028 as part of Sara Duterte’s ticket.

Why it works: Unverified bombshell accusations against personalities who are in the middle of intensified media coverage hijack the hype and create false information firestorms that steal away the public’s attention from legitimate and more important news.

Fight the fake: Everything is political. When disinformation peddlers, which experts refer to as bad actors, spread gossip that involves (or even just brushes against) anyone in government, it should be treated as high-risk, as it may push political motives that could play out in the 2028 national elections. With reports from Dhayshel Tinoy, Jessica Mae Galicto & Rhei Hernandez

This report was made possible by an Internews project to build the capacity of news organizations in understanding disinformation and influence operations in the Philippines.

By Nikko A. Balbedina III PressOne.PH Celebrity gossip has emerged as a key tool in the disinformation playbook, with soci...

07/11/2025

CLAIM: Leni Robredo is the mayor of the City of Manila.

RATING: FALSE

A Facebook account reposted a photo originally posted on the page of Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, with the caption misidentifying her as the mayor of Manila.

Flagged content: Facebook user “Gregory Fandalio” reposted the photo of Robredo in the “Tagalog vs Bisaya” Facebook group on Oct. 25. The photo shows Robredo after she received rescue boats and relief packs from an e-commerce company for the Angat Buhay Foundation on Feb 4.

The caption reads, “Manila Mayor Leni Robredo ay tinanggap Ang mga dinonate ng rescue boats ng Shoppee.” (“Manila Mayor Leni Robredo received the donated rescue boats from Shoppee.”)

Its body also includes, “Ito Ang meaning ng good governance: Iasa lang palagi sa iba at walang sariling gawa.” (“This is the meaning of good governance: Always rely on others and not act on your own.”)

Many commenters have also called out the false information.

Our debunk: Robredo is not the mayor of Manila. Robredo served as vice president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. She started a government flagship program aimed at poverty alleviation. After her term, the program transitioned to a non-profit organization, now known as Angat Pinas Inc. (commonly referred to as Angat Buhay), under her chairmanship.

She won the mayoral race in Naga City, Camarines Sur, during the 2025 midterm elections, making her the 18th mayor to serve the city. Robredo assumed office on June 30 as Naga City mayor.

At the same time, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso took office in the City of Manila.

Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook account was created earlier this year, and as of the time of writing, its Facebook posts primarily revolve around Robredo and her supporters.

As of writing, the post has garnered 3,900 likes, 67 shares, and 503 comments.

Spot the fake: Be cautious of suspicious Facebook accounts that explicitly distort obvious facts. Dhayshel Tinoy

PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.

The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at [email protected].

If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy

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FACT-CHECK: Marcos Jr, Duterte administrations back Davao public transit modernization

A Facebook video’s misleading claim that the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP) was implemented by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. needs more context.

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FACT-CHECK: Leni Robredo is mayor of Naga, not Manila

A Facebook account reposted a photo originally posted on the page of Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, with the caption misidentifying her as the mayor of Manila.

read more

FACT-CHECK: Facebook post falsely claims Marcos Jr. was named ‘best president’

A photo uploaded by a page, “Bagong Pilipinas Chronicles,” misleadingly suggests that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been named the “best president for the majority of Filipinos,” without citing scientific surveys or official sources.

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CLAIM: Leni Robredo is the mayor of the City of Manila. RATING: FALSE A Facebook account reposted a photo originally p...

29/10/2025

CLAIM: Senators filed a motion to reinstate Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman.

RATING: FALSE

A YouTube video with over 122,000 views falsely claimed that senators had filed a motion to bring back Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Flagged content: A YouTube account, “PINAS NEWS INSIDER,” posted a video claiming Marcoleta’s comeback as Blue Ribbon chairman because of a motion filed by senators.

The video is titled, “GOODNEWS! NAG MOTION mga SENADOR BALlK si MARCOLETA sa BLUE RIBBON? NATAMEME si SOTTO LACSON PAHIYA?”

(GOOD NEWS! SENATORS’ MOTIONED FOR MARCOLETA AS BLUE RIBBON? SOTTO LACSON HUMILIATED?)

The thumbnail is composed of spliced images of Marcoleta, Sotto, and Lacson with an overlay text that reads, “SENADO BUMALEKTAD BALIK BLUE RIBBON SI MARCOLETA GOODNEWS!” (SENATE BACKED MARCOLETA FOR BLUE RIBBON GOOD NEWS!)

Our debunk: No official statement or documents from the Senate or senators show a motion to reinstate Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon chair.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s comeback as chairman of the Blue Ribbon in an interview.

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he would honor Lacson’s return as Blue Ribbon chair.

In a statement, Lacson discussed his further actions regarding the anomalous flood control projects if reappointed as Blue Ribbon chairman.

There are no records regarding a motion to reinstate Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon chairman.

There is also no proof that a senator had filed a motion to reinstate Marcoleta.

Rewind: After replacing Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as Senate President, Sotto announced that Lacson would replace Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon Committee chair on Sept 8.

On Oct. 6, Lacson officially resigned as the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Sotto announced Sen. Erwin Tulfo as the acting chair of the Blue Ribbon on Oct. 8.

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube account “PINAS NEWS INSIDER” spread false claims regarding the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee without presenting credible evidence.

The video drew 122,000 views, 11,000 likes, and 960 comments.

As of writing, the YouTube account has 1,200,000 subscribers.

Spot the fake: Verify the statements and claims of any video by sourcing back to the politicians’ social media accounts.

Verify if there is a formal press release from the government office on their official websites.

Find out if there is an official statement or a social media post by the politicians addressing the matter on their official accounts. Rhei Gian Hernandez

PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.

The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at [email protected].

If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy

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FACT-CHECK: Facebook post falsely claims Marcos Jr. was named ‘best president’

A photo uploaded by a page, “Bagong Pilipinas Chronicles,” misleadingly suggests that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been named the “best president for the majority of Filipinos,” without citing scientific surveys or official sources.

read more

FACT-CHECK: No motion filed to reinstate Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon chairman

A YouTube video with over 122,000 views falsely claimed that senators had filed a motion to bring back Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

read more

FACT-CHECK: page spreads disinformation post on fake lockdowns and class suspensions

A page named “DSWD Television” has been posting false announcements about updates in preparation for a major earthquake, class suspensions because of a supposed flu outbreak, and tropical cyclones “Quedan,” “Ramil,” and a made-up typhoon “Rome.”

read more

CLAIM: Senators filed a motion to reinstate Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman. RATING: FALSE A Yo...

26/10/2025

By Nikko A. Balbedina III

PressOne.PH

A coordinated wave of fake “breaking news” reports is spreading false claims that Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was ambushed in an attack allegedly orchestrated by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, adding to the swirl of disinformation amid ongoing Senate rifts.

Why it matters: This latest wave of news-cycle disinformation shows how operators capitalize on political controversies to push false narratives and dominate online attention.

Such tactics not only mislead the public but also blur the line between legitimate political developments and manufactured crises.

What we found: Multiple pages and YouTube accounts posted fake “breaking” reports of a supposed armed ambush that targeted Marcoleta.

On Facebook:

Several pages involved in spreading the false reports have previously been active in posting content supportive of the Duterte family, with some explicitly identifying as supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte or the Duterte family as a whole.

One page identified in the campaign, named “Mācroletā Fānpāges,” uses accented letters in its name in an apparent attempt to bypass platform monitoring algorithms.

Many posts featured the same graphics card showing Marcoleta against a backdrop of what appears to be a police or military operation, overlaid with text claiming: “Video sa pag-ambush kay Marcoleta hawak na ng awtoridad.”

Clicking the link embedded in these posts redirects users not to a news source but to an online shopping page for a Korean-branded biscuit.

On YouTube:

Multiple channels echoed the same false narrative using slideshow-style videos of Marcoleta’s photos from both his House and Senate stints. A narrator, sometimes AI-generated, delivers the fabricated report in a tone mimicking a news anchor.

PressOnePH found that these videos spend only the first few minutes on the false report before replaying clips from a previously flagged channel that had fabricated debate wins to boost Marcoleta’s image.

Despite claims that authorities possess video evidence of the supposed ambush, none of the posts provide any actual footage or verifiable sources.

What’s true: No credible news outlets or official sources have reported any ambush involving Marcoleta.

Neither the Philippine National Police nor the public information bureau of the Senate has reported any such incident.

Marcoleta himself denied the claim in a post on his verified page, urging the public to report accounts that spread disinformation.

False breaking updates are warping the news cycle

In Depth: Fake ‘breaking news’ on YouTube muddle info on Senate, House power shift amid flood control mess

YouTube disinformation campaign inflates Marcoleta’s persona with imagined debate wins

For context: The false narrative plays out against the backdrop of an ongoing rift between Marcoleta, who once chaired the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating flood control anomalies, and Sotto’s new Senate leadership.

Sotto had earlier denied Marcoleta’s request to place contractor couple Sarah and Pacifico Discaya under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.

Marcoleta also clashed with Senator Panfilo Lacson, who replaced him as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following the leadership shake-up on September 8.

YouTube channels have been monitored by PressOnePH to exaggerate and inflate Marcoleta’s image as a maverick figure in the Senate.

Bigger picture: This fabricated “ambush” narrative follows a pattern observed in previous disinformation campaigns where false “breaking news” stories are used to draw attention to recycled political propaganda. We call this news-cycle disinformation.

False narratives do not only attempt to stir political drama but can also redirect viewers to promotional or monetized content disguised as news.

The spread of news-cycle disinformation risks distorting public perception of developments and key personalities, with possible implications for their standing ahead of the 2028 elections.

Spot the fake: Events as serious as an armed ambush targeting a national government official would inevitably be reported by mainstream news organizations both locally and internationally.

Cross-reference reports with established news outlets and official channels, since incidents like these would be promptly covered and confirmed by authorities.

Always verify sensational claims by checking credible news sources or official statements before sharing them.

Be wary of posts linking to unrelated websites or online shops, a common sign of clickbait or coordinated disinformation tactics.

This report was made possible by an Internews project to build the capacity of news organizations in understanding disinformation and influence operations in the Philippines.

By Nikko A. Balbedina III PressOne.PH A coordinated wave of fake “breaking news” reports is spreading false claims that ...

24/10/2025

CLAIM: Declarations of lockdowns and class suspensions due to typhoons, earthquake, and an influenza outbreak.

RATING: FALSE

A page named “DSWD Television” has been posting false announcements about updates in preparation for a major earthquake, class suspensions because of a supposed flu outbreak, and tropical cyclones “Quedan,” “Ramil,” and a made-up typhoon “Rome.”

Flagged Content: Facebook posts and AI-generated videos and reels reported false declarations of lockdowns and class suspensions.

One of its videos falsely claimed that four typhoons will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the height of the tropical storm “Ramil.” The caption reads, “BAGYO ANNOUNCEMENT APAT NA BAGYO ANG PAPASOK SA BANSA NGAYONG BUWAN MAG INGAT PO.”

Also, a Facebook post falsely claimed that there are no classes starting October 20 until October 25 for the people to prepare for an incoming magnitude 10 earthquake. The caption reads, “WALANG PASOK ADVISORY! PAG HAHANDA SA LINDOL! WALANG PASOK OCTOBER 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.”

All videos and reels were made with the use of AI, including AI-generated newscasters and anchors, to disseminate misleading claims.

For every post, there were possible links to a phishing scam.

Our Debunk: No imposed lockdowns and class suspensions were announced by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DSWD does not have the mandate to suspend classes in schools. Only local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have legal mandates to suspend classes. These are found in the following legal documents: Executive Order No. 66, s. 2012, DepEd Order No. 37, s. 2022, and CHED Memorandum Order No. 15, s. 2012.

According to the USGS, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen.

In a Facebook reel, the Department of Health (DOH) made it clear that the rising cases of influenza-like illness are just because of the flu season; there is no influenza outbreak happening in the Philippines.

The page “DSWD Television” was created only on September 3, 2025. The page is also subscribed to Meta to authenticate it, an attempt to solidify its claim that it is a credible news source.

Rewind: Government agencies Phivolcs, Pagasa, and DOH give regular updates about earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, the weather and public health issues.

On Sept. 30, 2025, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Bogo City, Cebu, where at least 79 people were killed.

On Oct. 10, 2025, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Davao Oriental Offshore.

On Oct. 19, 2025, Tropical Storm “Ramil” passed by Manila Bay, leaving Signal No. 2 up in Metro Manila.

On Oct. 20, 2025, a DOH Facebook post confirmed that there was no influenza outbreak.

On Oct. 21, 2025, several local government units announced the suspension of classes due to Tropical Storm Ramil and the rise of Influenza-like illness.

Why we fact-checked this: The “DSWD Television” page spreads false information about issues relevant to the public..

One of their videos about the suspension of classes has more than 3,700,000 views, 69,000 reactions, and 21,000 shares.

As of writing, the page has 987,000 followers.

Spot the fake: Follow credible news sources to gather information.

Check and verify sources.

News regarding class suspensions and weather updates should be obtained from authorized officials.

Any page that has a verified badge does not necessarily mean it is a credible source of information. Francis Mediavillo

PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.

The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at [email protected].

If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy

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FACT-CHECK: page spreads disinformation post on fake lockdowns and class suspensions

A page named “DSWD Television” has been posting false announcements about updates in preparation for a major earthquake, class suspensions because of a supposed flu outbreak, and tropical cyclones “Quedan,” “Ramil,” and a made-up typhoon “Rome.”

read more

FACT-CHECK: Old B**g Revilla video resurfaces amid flood control mess

Several Facebook and TikTok accounts recirculated an old video of former senator Ramon “B**g” Revilla Jr. walking with a cane, falsely claiming that he was recently injured and using it to generate sympathy amid his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.

read more

FACT-CHECK: page uses old, unrelated videos to spread disinfo on Sept. 21 rally

A Facebook user recycled and misrepresented old videos, falsely packaging them as supposed pro-Duterte rallies that allegedly took place during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption demonstrations over the multibillion-peso flood control mess.

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CLAIM: Declarations of lockdowns and class suspensions due to typhoons, earthquake, and an influenza outbreak. RATING: FALSE ...

24/10/2025

CLAIM: Former senator Ramon “B**g” Revilla Jr. was injured recently amid corruption allegations.

RATING: FALSE

Several Facebook and TikTok accounts recirculated an old video of former senator Ramon “B**g” Revilla Jr. walking with a cane, falsely claiming that he was recently injured and using it to generate sympathy amid his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.

Flagged content: A page, “Hokage ng Pinas,” posted the old video of Revilla, implying that the former senator recently got injured.

An overlay text read: “B**g Revilla Nagprapractice narin” (sic), “oh bat napilay to” , “sunod na wheelchair diyan”. (“B**g Revilla is practicing too,” “oh, why did this one get injured?” “next, bring a wheelchair here.”)

It also included hashtags: “ .”

Edited videos started recirculating on Oct. 16 through various Facebook and TikTok accounts, all narrating the same claim and featuring the same captions and hashtags.

Our debunk: A different angle and time stamp of the video was posted by Rappler’s Dwight de Leon on X (formerly Twitter) last year, May 8, during the Partido Federal-Lakas alliance signing ceremony a month after Revilla was reportedly injured while filming a movie.

Ramos mentioned in the caption that Revilla sustained an Achilles tendon injury in April 2024.

A Senate press release dated April 17, 2024, stated that the Revilla “suffered an Achilles tendon rupture” while filming.

On April 19, 2024, days after the Senate press release, Revilla posted his photo on Instagram where he can be seen lying on a hospital bed with his family gathered around, and announcing his successful surgery.

His Instagram posts afterwards included photos of him standing with an assistive device. His last photo with a cane was during his daughter’s doctorate commencement on July 30, 2024.

His latest Facebook post, Aug. 18, shows the former senator being able to stand on his own.

Rewind: Revilla was among the names revealed by ex-Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo during a Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on Sept. 25.

Bernardo revealed that he gave a list of projects to Revilla in 2024. He also alleged during the hearing that Revilla received kickbacks from the projects.

On the same day, Revilla denied the allegations through a statement released by a law firm.

Filipino politicians accused of corruption suddenly seen wearing a neck brace or sitting on a wheelchair in public appearances have become a subject of ridicule in Philippine politics and pop culture.

Why we fact-checked this: Many accounts are resurfacing the old video with the same exaggerated claim and false timeframe.

Spot the fake: Verify and trace suspicious video to their original post or other posts containing the same image using reverse image search tools.

Verify a politician’s latest activities on their personal social media accounts, on their close family’s, or through verified news organization’s social media accounts.

Be wary of videos that have missing contexts or superimposed texts. Dhayshel Tinoy

PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.

The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at [email protected].

If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy

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FACT-CHECK: page spreads disinformation post on fake lockdowns and class suspensions

A page named “DSWD Television” has been posting false announcements about updates in preparation for a major earthquake, class suspensions because of a supposed flu outbreak, and tropical cyclones “Quedan,” “Ramil,” and a made-up typhoon “Rome.”

read more

FACT-CHECK: Old B**g Revilla video resurfaces amid flood control mess

Several Facebook and TikTok accounts recirculated an old video of former senator Ramon “B**g” Revilla Jr. walking with a cane, falsely claiming that he was recently injured and using it to generate sympathy amid his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.

read more

FACT-CHECK: page uses old, unrelated videos to spread disinfo on Sept. 21 rally

A Facebook user recycled and misrepresented old videos, falsely packaging them as supposed pro-Duterte rallies that allegedly took place during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption demonstrations over the multibillion-peso flood control mess.

read more

CLAIM: Former senator Ramon “B**g” Revilla Jr. was injured recently amid corruption allegations. RATING: FALSE Several F...

07/10/2025

What seems to be emerging from the massive corruption scandal is that corruption has sadly become a norm and probably a culture for those involved and perhaps for the country as well. This is dangerous! We must therefore mightily fight it not only because it hinders economic progress and development but more importantly because it is destroying the social and cultural foundation of our nation.

We are most concerned especially about the young population of the country who are witnessing all these scandals. For sure, they are stunned, shocked, and even confused. Social media is flooded with videos and interviews lambasting the culprits and participants with varying accounts and opinions . Certainly, the youth are forming their own personal opinion on what they are witnessing. What is worrisome is the unspoken messages that we do not see, hear, or read. Recall the famous statement of the late Fr Roque Ferriols SJ, professor of Philosophy at the Ateneo De Manila University in the 70s whose medium of instruction was in Filipino: “Nasabi na ang lahat ng masasabi, subalit ang pinakamahalaga ay hindi masasabi”. Ito ang ilan sa hindi nasasabi subalit ang hangad natin ay masabi ang mga ito para makita ng lahat at maituwid:

Cheating is how the world works. When the Filipino youth see our government leaders and their accomplices stealing, it tells them success is not about hard work, or honesty, but about connections and shortcuts.

Rules do not matter if you are powerful. It normalizes the idea that laws are flexible for the rich and powerful, but rigid for ordinary Filipino citizens.

Your future is disposable and biodegradable. Public funds funded by taxpayers’ money and borrowings are stolen telling the Filipino youth that their future, dreams and environment can be sacrificed by greed and lust for money.

Yan ang mga nasa isipan ng kabataan ngayon. Malinaw na ang kinabukasan ng kabataan at bansa ay nasa panganib. Huwag po nating pahintulutan na manakaw at mawasak ito. Ipaglaban natin!

We must therefore uphold and reaffirm our values. Foremost of these is that “public office is a public trust.” This principle is enshrined in our Constitution and various laws of the country. It is the core and foundation of public service. Article XI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides: “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives”. This is further reinforced in the Declaration of Policies of RA6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), Section 2 which provides: “It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest”. This constitutional policy and principle is the foundation of public service, that is, the public officer has been entrusted with public power by the people, but he holds this power in trust; it is only to be used for their good and benefit, and never for his own benefit or that of a few. Simply put, the moral ethics of public office is anchored on the principle that public office is a public trust for the good and benefit of the people.

This trust however has been violated. Understandably, with the disclosure of widespread corruption, the general public and the common people have reacted accordingly:

Outrage and moral condemnation. There is resounding and widespread disgust of how taxpayers’ money intended to protect the people are allegedly corrupted and wasted. Our religious leaders have called it a moral abomination and economic sabotage because corruption in flood control does not only hurt government funds—it directly affects lives, public safety, and livelihoods.

Distrust toward government and contractors. People in all sectors of society feel the DPWH, contractors, and certain lawmakers are grossly negligent and failed in their jobs by not only taking millions of kickbacks, but putting up substandard or even ghost projects.

Demands for transparency and accountability. There are repeated and deafening calls for full and forensic investigations, protective mechanisms for whistleblowers, and prosecution of wrongdoers. And a call from civil society for publication of all infrastructure project details like budgets, names of contractors, and status of project, so the public can monitor and be informed. The enactment of the Freedom of Information is timely and indispensable.

Indeed, public trust is at its lowest at this point in time. The government cannot afford to remain timid and passive. It must act with dispatch, undeterred, and determined. This is the moment. It must not be wasted because The Filipino people and the community of nations are watching us.

René dG. Bañez is a former Commissioner of Internal Revenue and faculty of Ateneo Law School handling taxation.

What seems to be emerging from the massive corruption scandal is that corruption has sadly become a norm and probably a culture for...

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