While Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he understands the public frustration over the flood control corruption scandal, he urged Filipinos not to lose hope and to continue demanding accountability from the government.
He expressed hopes that Filipinos will not sit idly and will not allow cover-ups in the current twin investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the billions’ worth of taxpayers’ money lost to anomalous flood control programs.
“Alam ko magulo ang nangyayari sa ating bansa. Yung nakikita natin na korapsyon nakakalungkot pero wag tayo magbibitiw. ‘Wag tayo mawalan ng pagasa,” he said in a recent radio interview. “Sabi ko nga, tayo po ay ginagawa natin ito, pinaglalaban natin ito para mas maganda ang kinabukasan ng mga anak natin kaya hindi tayo pwede mawalan ng loob.”
Instead, he asked Filipinos to demand accountability, transparency, and justice, expressing support for “peaceful” assemblies and protests—both on social media and in the streets.
“May mangyayari kapag tayo ay kumilos at tuloy-tuloy na hinahanap ang katotohanan. Sama-sama natin pagtulungan na magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan,” Pangilinan added. “Wag tayo mawawalan ng loob. May pagasa pero kinakailangan natin kumilos, manindigan.”
Pointing out that politicians are “sensitive” to the public pulse, he said that Filipinos must demonstrate their disappointments, demand the truth, and reject possible cover-ups of those involved in corrupt practices.
“Nakakalungkot na nadadawit ang ating mga pulitiko pero sabi ko nga, kinakailangan managot, hindi pwede ang cover-up, hindi papayag ang ating mga kababayan na may cover-up,” the senator said.
“Handa ba ang ating mga kababayan na manindigan, tumaya, ipakita ang kanilang pag suporta na makulong ang mga nararapat?,” he asked.