Senate probers are doing the Filipino people a great service

The commentary “Politics as farce” by Gino Paje (9/14/21) contended that the ongoing investigation by the Senate blue ribbon committee of the shenanigans of President Duterte’s friends and associates known as the “Davao group” is just “politics,” given that the main investigators used to play footsie with Mr. Duterte and are now eyeing elective positions in 2022.

However, regardless of their motives, the Senate probers are actually doing a great service to the Filipino people. They are destroying the myth that Mr. Duterte is an invincible opponent, by exposing the massive corruption in his administration. It has now become clear that hundreds of millions of public funds intended to address a raging pandemic wound up in the pockets of the President’s greedy “Davao group.” And the farther Mr. Duterte goes out of his way to protect his boys, the more guilty as hell he looks.

But there is one thing that needs to be reckoned with in spite of all the compelling evidence of plunder that’s being dug up in the Senate: Only the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman are authorized by law to commence criminal prosecution against crooks. But with the officials running these government offices afraid of displeasing Mr. Duterte, who else can hold the crooks accountable? Thus, it’s all up to the electorate if they still want more of the same, or they will finally save this country from going to the dogs.

REY C. ESCOBAR
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