Every guilty party in the corruption scandal, including politicians, other government officials, and contractors, must be prosecuted and jailed, according to the millions-strong National Union of Cooperatives (NUC).

The NUC made the call for urgent reforms and accountability as public outrage continues to grow over anomalies in the government’s multibillion-peso flood control and other infrastructure projects.

“Accountability must be real, not selective,” the union said in a strongly worded statement read by Fr. Anton Pascual at a press conference in Quezon City last Wednesday, Oct. 1. The conference was called in part to announce the union’s activities, including a National Cooperative Summit to be held in Baguio City on Oct. 9–10.

Pascual, a past president and chief executive officer of the Church-run Radyo Veritas, currently chairs the NUC, which has 8–10 million members nationwide.

The union condemned “ghost” or nonexistent projects, substandard public works, and political dynasties, and called for “urgent, collective action to dismantle the culture of corruption and restore integrity to public service.”

“When will corruption end? We say: It must end now,” the NUC declared.

The union made public a sweeping set of demands, beginning with a thorough investigation and prosecution of all guilty parties in the corruption scandal.

What justice requires

“Plunder and graft are well documented, yet impunity prevails. All guilty parties, contractors, politicians, and their families must be prosecuted,” the NUC said, and called for the recovery of the stolen wealth so that the money can be used to fund education, health services, and infrastructure projects.

“Justice requires the return of all stolen funds,” it said. “Public money must serve the public.”

The NUC also called for a lifetime ban on corrupt officials and contractors, saying those who betray public trust must never again hold public office or be allowed to take on state projects.

“Integrity must be a minimum standard for service,” it said.

The union pointed out that the Commission on Audit and the Department of Public Works and Highways had repeatedly certified ghost projects without consequence. It demanded reforms in these agencies in order to ensure integrity, impartiality, and effectiveness.

“These agencies must be guardians, not enablers, of corruption,” it said.

The NUC demanded that government bidding processes be opened to the public, saying that such a move would serve to prevent manipulation and ensure fairness.

It also pushed for stronger protection for the whistleblowers in the corruption scandal. “They must be protected and rewarded, not punished for their courage,” it said.

NUC leaders said lawmakers implicated in the questionable projects must recuse themselves from the official inquiries to preserve legislative integrity and avoid conflicts of interest.

Political reforms

The NUC called for political reforms such as passage of a long-awaited law against political dynasties, arguing that dynasties “strangle democracy and silence marginalized voices.”

It likewise demanded reforms in the party-list system, saying it has been abused by the powerful.

It said the distribution of government aid programs, or ayuda, should neither be hampered by “bureaucratic delay and political manipulation” nor be controlled by lawmakers for political gain.

While calling out widespread corruption, the NUC recognized and expressed support for leaders who uphold transparency, accountability, and service to the people.

“Positive models can inspire change across the system,” it said.

Quoting Edmund Burke, the union said all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

“We refuse to be silent. We refuse to be complicit. We demand change. Now,” it added.

Maintaining the momentum

When asked if the NUC is prepared to mobilize its millions-strong members to take its demand for accountability to the streets, Pascual replied in the affirmative.

“Yes. We believe we have to maintain the momentum,” he said. “We have momentum right now because of this scandal. We Filipinos have awakened again, just like during Edsa [in 1986], but hopefully this will not die out.”

On Sept. 21, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered at Rizal Park and the People Power Monument on Edsa, and other places nationwide, to protest government corruption particularly in flood control projects and to demand the return of stolen funds.

“There must be restitution,” Pascual said. “We don’t need just repentance. It’s not enough to simply ask for forgiveness. There must be punishment.”