26/10/2025
‼️SUNDAY READING‼️
FULL CONVERSATIONS | THE ROOTS OF CORRUPTION
Rene G. Romero on impunity, leadership, and the path to clean governance
By Mark Sison
“Cong Rene, how did we get to this point? How did we end up witnessing such massive corruption?”
That was how our conversation began one sunny morning in Angeles City, just as news broke of an unprecedented move by 30 major business and civic organizations urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to act decisively on what they called a “massive corruption crisis” in flood-control projects, warning that the scandals have gravely eroded public trust and investor confidence.
He sighed before answering, the frustration visible. "It didn’t happen overnight,” said business leader Rene Romero, a long-time advocate of reform and good governance. “Corruption this massive is not just about one agency or one administration, it’s the consequence of decades of impunity, weak institutions, and a culture that rewards silence over accountability.”
That exchange set the tone for a wide-ranging discussion on impunity, leadership, voters’ maturity, and the need to rebuild a credible political system.
A Crisis That Shook The Business Community
Recently, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and its allied organizations called on PBBM to act decisively on what they described as a “massive corruption crisis” in flood-control and infrastructure projects.
The September 2025 OCTA Research survey found that 31 percent of Filipinos now rank fighting corruption among their top concerns up sharply from 13 percent two months earlier. A Pulse Asia poll revealed that 9 in 10 Filipinos believe government officials and contractors colluded in irregular projects.
Romero said the public’s outrage is both overdue and necessary.
“Filipinos from Class A to Class E are now fully aware and deeply enraged by the injustices before them,” he said. “My hope is that this awakening will not fade into anger but lead to real reform that by 2028, we elect leaders of integrity, competence, and genuine service.”
Tracing Impunity To Our History and The Lost Two-Party Balance
As our talk deepened, Romero pointed out that corruption in the Philippines is historical as much as political.
“Foreign powers like Spain, the United States, Japan trained generations of local elites to protect privilege,” he said. “That legacy remains the same families dominate, and the same systems of impunity continue.”
He noted that before Martial Law, the country functioned under a two-party system dominated by the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Liberal Party (LP). Between 1946 and 1972, these two parties alternated in power, together commanding more than 90 percent of national votes.
The Nacionalistas, tracing their roots to the pre-war movement for independence, championed industrialization, nationalism, and social-justice programs under leaders such as Manuel Quezon and Ramon Magsaysay. The Liberals, formed in 1946 as a breakaway reformist faction, spearheaded post-war reconstruction, the creation of the Central Bank, and liberal economic ties with the United States.
Romero said that while the old two-party system was far from perfect, it still imposed discipline and accountability.
“At least then,” he said, “there was ideological competition, administrations could be measured by their platforms and policies. Today we have several political parties, many of them personal vehicles with no long-term vision. We traded stability for fragmentation.”
Leadership and the Power of the Ballot
When I asked what must change, Romero leaned forward. "Good governance starts with credible elections,” he said. “Clean, accurate, and hack-free. But more than machines, we need maturity, voters who understand issues, not personalities.”
He urged a nationwide voter education drive reaching all social classes, “from Class A to E,” and warned against electing unfit leaders.
“We’ve seen officials with unstable behavior or no qualification but still win simply because of fame or family name. That has to stop.”
He also called for full transparency in the use of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), stronger audit systems, and independent oversight of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Beyond DPWH: A National Disease
Romero was quick to caution against scapegoating one agency.
“Corruption is massive from janitor to the top. The DPWH scandal is just the symptom. The disease runs through procurement, budgeting, and oversight,” he said.
Senate inquiries have since uncovered reports of overpriced flood-control projects allegedly designed for kickbacks an issue lawmakers warn could compromise disaster resilience and national security.
“This must be a national awakening, not selective outrage,” Romero added. “We must demand accountability across the entire bureaucracy.”
Overhauling The Party-List System and Limiting Power
Our discussion turned to structural reform. "The party-list system was meant for the marginalized,” Romero said. “Now it’s overcrowded and abused by dynasties and businessmen. We need to overhaul it, reinforce a genuine two-party system, and finally pass an anti-dynasty law.”
He also urged clearer limits on the influence of the First Lady or First Gentleman, emphasizing that the role of the presidential spouse should remain supportive and transparent, free from involvement in government affairs.
“The First Spouse is not an elected official,” Romero stressed. “Their involvement in public affairs must be transparent and accountable.”
A Scorecard for Good Governance
Romero said reform must be measurable. He supports a national governance scorecard aligned with the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) framework gauging transparency, accountability, and service.
Founded in 2001 by former Finance Minister Jesus Estanislao and other reform-minded individuals, the ISA emerged from a desire to build stronger democratic institutions.
The ISA envisions a “Dream Philippines” where government institutions perform effectively and citizens thrive. It drives public sector transformation through partnerships with government agencies, hospitals, schools, and professional associations. Among its key initiatives are the Performance Governance System (PGS), which enhances institutional performance nationwide; forums and workshops that advance governance reforms, such as the 2025 Public Governance Forum; and strong advocacy efforts calling for justice, accountability, and integrity in the use of public funds.��He also praised Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s decision to restore public access to Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), reversing restrictions under former Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
“Kaya nga posible pala ang impossible depende lang talaga sa public official. Public office is public trust. Transparency is non-negotiable,” Romero said.
The PCCI’s stand, he added, sends a vital message. "When 30 of the country’s largest business groups unite to condemn corruption, it’s not just political it’s economic. Investors will not build on quicksand.”
The Call for a National Awakening
As our conversation wound down, Romero’s tone softened but his message remained firm.
“This awakening must lead to reform,” he said. “The outrage is real, but it must become a movement, voters who demand ethics, leaders who deliver, and institutions that refuse to tolerate impunity.”
Corruption, we agreed, is not simply a failure of policy but a failure of conscience. And if this national outrage truly becomes a national awakening, perhaps this time, the floodwaters of corruption will finally recede.
BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories
