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Accountability remains essential. Allegations of abuse of power or misuse of public funds must be investigated, regardless of who is involved. But when political conflict overshadows governance, the public interest suffers.
Social media platforms backed by multi-million dollar companies must also be held accountable in the proliferation of disinformation, and not just profit from the crisis, political scientist Cleve Arguelles urged.
Madriaga, in a notarized affidavit dated Nov. 29, 2025 claimed that Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, security chief at the OVP, made him deliver large sums of money taken from Duterte’s confidential funds at the OVP and the DepEd to several persons “thus confirming how Respondent Duterte and her co-respondents converted the subject confidential funds to their own personal use, contrary to the actual purposes for which the same was earmarked and/or purportedly disbursed.”
A netizen boldly asks: Is government wavering on Escudero and Villanueva? Is there an orchestrated move to absolve them from complicity in the flood control scam? Has Escudero used his reported closeness to Liza Araneta Marcos to whitewash his case? Do Escudero and Villanueva have the goods against President Marcos Jr. that prevents him from pursuing their prosecution?
Warring political factions will turn to more disinformation to get ahead of the competition in the run-up to the 2028 presidential elections.
Chavit's hand behind the complaint will probably be a factor that will spell its doom. But it is the presence of Paras and Defensor that makes this complaint farcical. Farce has always been their cottage industry.
The annual procession of Jesus Nazareno, also known as the Black Nazarene, held every 9th of January on the streets of Quiapo in Manila is an awesome scene of deep faith and devotion, not many can fully understand.
In modern post- war history, the U.S. has won battles but has frequently lost the peace. This happened in Vietnam, Iraq, and in Afghanistan. It remains to be seen if history will repeat itself in Venezuela, and from the looks of it, the situation does not look promising for the Americans and is more complicated and convoluted than they make it appear.
Maduro, to be sure, was a scoundrel. It is just a pity that his end came in the hands of another scoundrel. It could have been better under the rule of international law.
Ultimately, the true test will lie not in promises or procedures, but in implementation. How transparently the realigned funds are spent, and whether anti-corruption measures are enforced without fear or favor, will determine whether 2026 marks a break from the past, or merely another year haunted by ghost projects.
