The Calling-Out of PBBM: Finally, Someone Is Doing It

At long last, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. (PBBM) has publicly called out contractors, DPWH, and certain public officials allegedly involved in failed flood control projects. This bold move paved the way for Senate hearings—a step that could have been an opportunity for accountability and reform.

The Problem of Platforms for Shady Personalities

Unfortunately, the hearings and the media coverage have also given shady personalities more platforms. Instead of focusing on solutions, the public is exposed to political maneuverings and blame games.

• Mayor Vico Sotto called out journalists for enabling questionable narratives, only to be threatened with a libel suit in response.

• Mayor Benjamin Magalong was criticized as being “too nosy,” with detractors claiming he cannot even manage his own backyard.

• A congressman criticized the President’s statements, dismissing them instead of appreciating the need for accountability.

• Some lawmakers accused those who called out corruption of being jealous, indirectly suggesting that even the President’s expose came from envy rather than integrity.

• One congressman even maligned the media’s request for interviews, treating it as a personal attack instead of responding with professionalism and transparency.

Meanwhile, critics of the administration dismissed the entire process as a zarzuela—a political circus designed more for performance than resolution. And worse, some senators leading the hearings carry their own baggage of alleged corruption, undermining credibility from the very beginning.

Small Victories in Accountability

Despite the theatrics, there have been small wins. Congressman Leandro Antonio Leviste reportedly caught a DPWH engineer attempting to involve him in red tape and corrupt practices. This shows how corruption often lurks in the details of contracts and processes, not just in big scandals. Such vigilance is a reminder that accountability is possible, though it requires constant watchfulness.

The Implications

The main implication is troubling: focus is shifting away from corruption toward political drama.

• Instead of deep analysis of why flood control projects keep failing, the hearings are devolving into personality clashes and political one-upmanship.

• The danger is that this may once again become a waste of time where no one is punished and no systemic change takes place.

• The worst part? Ordinary Filipinos—those who endure floods and substandard infrastructure—remain voiceless in the political noise.

Conclusion

Calling out corruption is necessary and long overdue. But if these hearings are reduced to media stunts and political score-settling, then the opportunity will be lost. For PBBM’s call to have real impact, it must lead not to circus politics, but to structural reforms, genuine accountability, and justice for taxpayers whose money keeps drowning in failed projects.