THE COMMENTARIES AFTER the September 21 mobilizations are already pulling us away from the real issue: corruption. If we let them, they will sap our spirit and scatter our resolve.
We will once again find ourselves in the familiar stalemate—loud, angry, divided, and yet unable to move forward. And the only winners will be the corrupt, who, as always, will be left untouched.
ENDLESS CIRCLES
The first set of commentaries spins around the divide between progressives, BBM loyalists, and the DDS supporters.
The discussion circles endlessly: who has the legitimate call, who should lead the rallies, who should be shunned.
The accusations fly: the DDS cannot be trusted, for they only want to install Sara who is equally corrupt; the BBM loyalists cannot be trusted, for they only want to shield a president who presided over this massive corruption; the progressives cannot be trusted, for they only want to topple government and replace it with communism. The result is suspicion, hatred, paralysis. We are all divided by ulterior motives, and the corrupt laugh all the way to the bank.
“[T]his is not about partisanship. It is about crime. It is about thieves in barong, stealing from hospitals, from classrooms, from coffins, from our very flood control.”
UNENDING BLAMING
The second set of commentaries is about the urban poor, the young, who joined the rallies and turned violent.
All three groups disowned them. All three groups accused each other of secretly funding and manipulating them.
The blaming is unending.
But in the margins, a class analysis emerges: that the violence of the poor is an organic movement, a raw response to the endless violence of the elite establishment. Some say it is justified. Some say it is inevitable. But again, the commentaries distract us from the real issue.
THE REAL ISSUE
And the real issue of the day is corruption. Anyone who has paid taxes to this government only to see their money vanish in bogus projects has the right to protest. Progressives, BBM loyalists, DDS supporters—it does not matter.
Anyone cheated by the government, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, elite or masses, has the right to march, to shout, to demand change.
We need a movement that captures this organic sentiment—that regardless of political affiliation, class, or status, everyone is welcome. Because corruption cuts across colors, families, and factions.
CROOKS IN BARONG
As I said before, this is not about partisanship. It is about crime. It is about thieves in barong, stealing from hospitals, from classrooms, from coffins, from our very flood control.
We must push relentlessly for the investigation, prosecution, arrest, and conviction of anyone who dipped their hands in the public coffers. No exemptions. No sacred cows. We cannot be selective. Our loyalty must not be to party or clan, but to the nation.
If we continue to let ulterior motives guide our struggle, if we allow partisan loyalties to outweigh our call for genuine change, we will lose steam, we will lose direction, we will lose the moment. And the corrupt, yet again, will win.
WHY LET THEM WIN?
And let us be clear: if the corrupt win, it will not be because they were strong. It will be because we were foolish. Because while they were stealing, we were bickering. Because while they were plundering, we were pointing fingers. Because while they were laughing, we were tearing each other apart.
Corruption does not care what color you wear. It does not care if you shout “BBM,” “DDS,” or “Progressive.” It only cares that you remain divided, distracted, defeated.
So let us stick to the issue. Or else we might as well hand the keys of the treasury back to the thieves, and clap as they rob us blind.