In the seemingly desperate environs of public service or political realities, comes two odd and if I may say not so normal creatures. Two Local Executives are making good waves of hope and good change because of the crusade against corruption they have embarked on.
Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig and Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio are a rare breed. They are endangered and perhaps wore crosshairs target on their backs. They are marked for demolition even for death because of the decision to be crusaders against kickbacks and SOP (a term for commission on public works projects).
Pasig and Baguio are lucky to have leaders who are willing to be ostracized and worse labelled as plain whistleblowers. And in a country who treats whistleblowers in a rude and condemnable manner take the case of Lozada, Delos Reyes and now Alias Totoy, they should never do these things if they want peace and quiet, but Vico and Benjie did what is beyond the norm.
In the recent flooding of Metro Manila and the exposure via nature’s fury the corruption variant called Flood Control Projects were unfolded.
Today, even the President of the Country followed through his SONA promise, the corruption must stop, and he will do this as part of his legacy. And so, President Bongbong Marcos sis, exposed the Top 15 Contractors who has flood control mega projects. The list was shown and is readily available online.
These effectively made Vico and Benjie, men against the world. They are up against a colossal structure and systems based on bribery, rewards, and percentage game that nobody, nobody would dare to face head-on. These two Mayors did not back out. We are seeing politicians not taking their sides and people who are recipient of the commission are radio silenced, quite like the midnight that it is.
But people, millions of them took notice and perhaps they would do something. And I vehemently pray that they do actions and that we hope Vico, and Benjie will have the needed critical mass to influence and that hopefully they would turn out to the influencer and inspiration that we badly need.
