Here’s What Plunder Does

SISYPHUS’ TRICKS 

By Cipriano D.C. Cabrera 

MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — Right now, our government has meager cash to ease the hardships we’re experiencing brought about by the conflict in the Middle East.

It appears there is no actual relief during this price crisis, except the suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products—a move that will hopefully bring down fuel costs and, consequently, the prices of prime commodities.

However, there are not enough government funds to sustain a protracted financial assistance initiative, as some government officials have stolen almost everything.

Without funds, how can the government do what needs to be done?

For example, flooding is the most predictable of disasters, given stronger and more frequent typhoons due to climate change. Yet Congress supermajority members of the Duterte and Marcos administrations used ghost, substandard, and overpriced flood control works to pocket billions of pesos each.

Now politically divorced, the so-called “unithieves” make it look like only the other party is corrupt. Divide and conquer is their way of staying in power—to plunder even more.

In 2019, the Duterte administration’s budget secretary “parked” PhP71 billion in flood funds with selected lawmakers. Of that, PhP2.4 billion was for the then-Speaker, an ex-president. Another PhP1.9 billion was for the House majority leader, now deceased.

The DBM secretary allotted hundreds of millions for a Bicol town that doesn’t even flood. The mayor of that town then was his daughter’s adoptive father-in-law.

In his father’s last three years in office, Paolo Duterte got PhP52 billion in flood funds. Still, his Davao City First District and the whole locale flood even with slight rains.

The present administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) reportedly misappropriated pork barrel funds amounting to PhP350 billion in 2023, PhP500 billion in 2024, and PhP475 billion in 2025—a total of PhP1.325 trillion. Included were PhP60 billion from PhilHealth and PhP110 billion from the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation for more flood scams.

Worst, the Marcos estate owes the government PhP205 billion in taxes that estate administrator “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. refuses to pay. The government has yet to recover PhP125 billion in stolen wealth from his father, Ferdinand Sr., and mother, Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

We remember PBBM’s two infamous lines in 2025: “Mahiya naman kayo.”

He delivered this message in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 last year. He referred to senators and congressmen who pillaged public works funds. Ironically, these very plunderers jumped to their feet and applauded in feigned innocence.

But let’s go back to today’s emergencies that were actually foreseeable. The fact is that government funds should have been established for:

• Rush repatriation of up to 2.4 million distressed overseas workers;

• Fuel discounts for 1.9 million jeepney, tricycle, and taxi drivers;

• Diesel and gear for 2.3 million fishermen;

• Fertilizer aid to five million rice, corn, and vegetable farmers;

• Feeds assistance to six million backyard hog and poultry raisers;

• Soft loans to micro and small entrepreneurs.

But these were not done as our politicos remain insatiable in their greed. Their plunder has become routine. We recall:

• 2000 – PhP130 million stolen from tobacco taxes and delivered to the First Family in suitcases;

• 2001 – alias Jose Velarde presidential bank account with PhP3.2 billion in deposits;

• 2003 – alias Jose Pidal bank account with PhP321 million;

• 2004 – PhP728-million ghost fertilizers from Malacañang to congressmen allies, even in urban districts;

• 2007 – diversion of PhP900 million in Malampaya gas field revenues to the Department of Agrarian Reform through fake NGOs;

• 2013 – PhP10-billion congressional pork barrel scam involving 20 senators and 100 congressmen, fixed by Janet Lim Napoles;

• 2019 – Department of Energy giveaway of a US$545-million Chevron stake in Malampaya to presidential crony Dennis Uy’s firm with only US$100 capital; that company now rakes in US$1.15 million or PhP66.7 million a day—money that should go to the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company;

• 2020–2021 – PhP65.19-billion “purchase” of fake and faulty pandemic supplies, of which PhP10.85 billion went to Pharmally, linked to Presidential Special Economic Adviser Michael Yang;

• 2016–present – PhP1.7-trillion fake, substandard, and overpriced flood control projects awarded to favorite senators and congressmen of two presidents.

So, with all these in view, we ask—is there hope for the future?

FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email at cipcab2006@yahoo.com

 or text me at cellphone numbers 09171656792 or 09171592256 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Thank you and mabuhay!

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