NOT EVEN THE creation of an independent commission to look into anomalous government infrastructure projects is enough to calm down a public outrage against corruption.
In a Facebook post that saw several government vehicles billeted in a secured parking area of a Clark-based hotel casino, netizens pounded on the “insensitivity” of government officials.
Three government vehicles bearing red license plates were traced to different local government units — the Province of Zambales, Municipality of San Luis, and Municipality Maria Aurora.
It was not certain though which province San Luis belonged as web sources showed four provinces hosting towns with similar names — Batangas, Pampanga, Agusan del Sur and Aurora.
FRANTIC REACTIONS
Hours after being uploaded, the netizens went wild over the social media post.
As of this writing, the Facebook post by a netizen who goes by the name Ajarn Chris, has already generated 15,000 reactions, 2,300 comments and 6,300 shares. The figure does not include emoticons corresponding to each comment — most sarcastic, furious and in some instances wishing death to corrupt government people.
Comments on Ajarn Chris’ post ranged from outrage — accusing its passengers of laundering money through the casino or gambling, which under existing laws is prohibited to all government officials and employees.
For one, entering and playing in casinos is considered a violation of the ethical standards law for civil servants.
However, not all comments seemed receptive to the post which contained an unredacted photo of the government vehicles, as some chose to go neutral, kind, and rather cautious.
Some of the comments urged fellow netizens not to be hasty but to first verify if there is an ongoing seminar, planning session or team building before passing bad judgments on the government people.
MOSTLY FUMING MAD
But the majority was really an expression of outrage as people are now fed up with the massive and pervasive corruption in government as shown by the collusion of private contractors with the Department of Public Works and Highways, Congress and Senate — and perhaps powerful people at the Palace.
People are getting impatient with the slow pace of investigations such that even after one month, no one implicated in the billion pesos flood control project fund mess has been formally charged and jailed.
With every passing day, the public have grown eagerly weary that the real culprits in the systemic corruption would never be prosecuted and jailed because they are either very powerful themselves or are very close and influential to those in power.
Social media has been ablaze with mocking memes and satiric songs and narratives that either delights or deepens the animosity of people to those in government.
The build-up in hostility toward government officials is evidenced by the tight lens of people in spotting infractions– big and small– committed by those donning government uniforms, simple statements or using official cars.