Amidst the protests over the persisting corruption and flood control scandal, Political Analyst and Professor Edmund Tayao suggested that Filipinos wait for the results of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) investigation.
In an exclusive interview at DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan on Monday, September 22, Tayao answered whether the nationwide protests would continue.
"Kung ako ang tatanungin ninyo, I might as well wait for the investigation to actually happen and find out kung meron talagang lalabas doon sa investigation, and then we take it from there,” he said, pointing out the previous EDSA People Power demonstrations.
"Kung nag-work yung dalawang EDSA na ‘yun, na talagang nagmartsa tayo, [na] hindi lang tayo pinawisan, naulanan tayo, naarawan tayo, eh wala na tayo ngayon. Hindi na natin pinag-uusapan yung mga issue na ‘yan. At napakarami nang iskandalong nangyari," he added.
Tayao acknowledged the billions of funds spent on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects. However, he also highlighted the challenge of inflation. “the bottom line is, talagang napakalaking chunk ng ating national budget — na dapat napupunta sa mas magagandang pagkakagastusan — ang nawawala dahil sa korupsyon," he said.
Although corruption is not an unfamiliar issue, Tayao expressed frustration about how most officials who were involved in previous political scandals were not held accountable.
"Ang dami din na paratangan ng corruption, wala naman na huli. So saan tayo pupunta? Ito na naman po tayo ngayon,” he said, adding that he had observed both former President Rodrigo Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration as an appointee.
"So nakita ko pareho, nakumpara ko. At sa totoo lang po, sa totoo lang, meron ba tayong makikitang iba sa mga politiko natin? At tapos i-aankla natin ang ating kinabukasan sa kanila. Kung si Pangulong Marcos po ay talagang calculating, hindi niya basta-basta isisiwalat 'yang corruption na yan at hindi siya basta sisigaw ng mahiya naman kayo. Gagawin niya yan surgical," he continued.
‘Galit na galit’
When asked whether a high-ranking official would finally be held accountable, Tayao said that he hoped it would be the case. If no one were called to face the consequences, even the President’s name would be affected, he said.
“Kung walang mapaparusahan, bababa ang pangalan ng [Pangulong] Bongbong Marcos, na katulad lang ng mga nakaraan na puro kuwento lang, at wala naman nangyari. And again, one of the reasons why…malaki ang mobilization sa Luneta at saka sa People Power Monument. Kasi talagang yung mga nag-organisa doon, napagkakatiwalaan, at saka marami talagang galit na galit na sa korupsyon," he pointed out.
With that, he also warned the public of some groups taking advantage of the situation to justify other political perspectives.
Despite this, he maintained that the public should wait for the results of the ICI investigation, stating, “If you're going to ask me, let's wait for the result of the ICI investigation and find out whether the President really is sincere or not, and siguro naman by 2028, hindi na tayo boboto nung sumasayaw lang o namimigay lang ng jacket.”
On Sunday, Tayao asserted in an exclusive interview that a change in incumbent officials would not put an end to corruption, suggesting that a ‘systemic change’ might be needed.
