Insider Spotlight
The groups—including the Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Financial Executives Institute—declared their “outrage, disgust and disappointment” at legislators, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, local governments, and even the Commission on Audit, accusing them of grave betrayal of public trust.
Driving the news
The statement warned that despite the President’s admonitions, “the guilty among these officials will continue their merry way of robbing the people and filling their pockets, completely oblivious to the fact that they are betraying the public trust, committing a treasonous act against our people, and simply being unpatriotic and sinful”.
The groups stressed that justice can only be achieved if corrupt officials are prosecuted, jailed, and forced to return stolen funds.
Their plea: “Please stop! Maawa naman kayo sa mga naghihirap na taong bayan (Have mercy on the suffering Filipino people).
Why it matters
The unified front of groups spanning finance, exporters, women leaders, and civic organizations underscores mounting private sector frustration over systemic graft. Corruption in infrastructure projects has long been cited as a barrier to inclusive growth, foreign investment, and poverty alleviation.
What they’re doing
The coalition pledged concrete action:
Their rallying cry: “Tama na! Sobra na! Tumigil na kayo!” (“Enough! This has gone too far! Stop it now!”) —Ed: Vanessa Hidalgo
