Philippines: “We Want Abusive Officials Jailed”

Welcome to IWPR’s Frontline Update, your go-to source to hear from journalists and local voices at the front lines of conflict.

 THE BIG PICTURE  

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in the Philippines over a corruption scandal which has seen billions of dollars siphoned off fraudulent flood-control projects.

Simmering public frustration over graft erupted after lawmakers and contractors were found to be making huge profits from “ghost” projects that never materialise – while ordinary people face the severe impact of persistent flooding.

 VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE 

"We want abusive officials and contractors to be finally put to jail,” Wilhemina, a single mother from Marikina City, told IWPR this week, adding that her family lived with the constant threat of having to flee their home during rainy season. “We have had so many exposés before, but no one has ever been punished.”

“The protests began last month and Filipinos continue to hope – but doubt -- that their government will punish the corrupt officials and public works contractors who brazenly enriched themselves through huge kickbacks and below-par flood control projects,” said Rorie Fajardo-Jarilla, IWPR Asia Programme Coordinator & Philippines Country Director.

Writing for IWPR this week, she noted that public demands for reform have been particularly acute amid anger at the extravagant lifestyles of corrupt officials and contractors. In the Philippines, she continued, “it is always the poorest who bear the brunt of the effects of these and other disasters, compounded by weak government response and poor risk reduction systems”.

 WHY IT MATTERS 

In one of Southeast Asia’s most disaster-prone nations, public trust in effective governance is hugely important.

A previous scandal which saw lawmakers pocketed 10 billion pesos (172m dollars) from congressional funds intended for rural development programmes also led to angry street protests.

But Fajardo-Jarilla said that the country’s “personality-driven” politics had meant that many of the politicians involved had easily returned to public office.

This time, she raised the hope that meaningful reform might finally be imminent, noting the diverse coalition encompassing youth, media and civil society that was now calling for legislative reform to ensure transparency and accountability. 

 THE BOTTOM LINE 

IWPR has been working in the Philippines since 2007, currently focusing on combatting corruption and promoting transparency and accountability in public life through information, education, reporting, training, outreach and advocacy. IWPR also supports media, civil society and citizen reporters in several countries across Southeast, South and East Asia to improve information-sharing on public transparency and accountability issues across the region. 

“IWPR has always supported this approach towards lasting change,” said Fajardo-Jarilla. “The more the people understand how their government works, the more they can monitor, engage, shape and ultimately ensure it is always working for them.”