What’s love got to do with it?

By Michael Henry Yusingco, LL.M

We do not want to go to the Dark Side, but hate is an ally in the fight against corruption. Particularly, hate for dynastic politicians in Congress. A recent OCTA Research survey reveals that most Filipinos are angry over corruption in government infrastructure projects. The strongest reactions came from Gen Z and Millennial respondents, the same demographic that now makes up a decisive share of the voting population. Hate is just a natural progression, and their rage needs to be stoked, not suppressed.

It is understandable for young Filipinos to be disgusted with a political culture that has consistently failed to hold the powerful accountable, even with clear evidence of wrongdoing. Take for instance the controversy involving Senator Joel Villanueva.  He was dismissed and disqualified from public office by the Office of the Ombudsman for involvement in pork barrel corruption. Yet the Senate ignored this fact and essentially “protected” one of their own. A ringing betrayal of the public trust and an insult to the very notion of ethical governance.

The episode laid bare how political dynasties close ranks to protect their kind, regardless of legality or moral standing. The Senate’s refusal to act on the Ombudsman’s dismissal order demonstrated a collective tolerance, even complicity, in corruption. Senators swore to uphold the Constitution and serve the Filipino people, yet when confronted with an opportunity to prove it, they failed. Instead of choosing integrity, they chose kinship within the political class. This kind of dynastic collusion is precisely what sustains the pork barrel cartel.

Equally troubling was the conduct of then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who later reconsidered the dismissal order. Reconsideration itself is within his authority, and such discretion may be legally defensible. But the failure to publicly disclose this reconsideration, particularly when it concerned a sitting senator involved in pork barrel corruption, was arguably an act of concealment. Transparency is not optional in a democratic state—it is foundational. The silence deprived the public of information they had every right to know.

Both the Senate’s protection of Villanueva and the Ombudsman’s quiet reconsideration represent a common pathology in Philippine governance: the consistent subordination of the public interest to political convenience. The constitutional prescription that “public office being a public trust” has become little more than rhetoric. Every time a public official evades accountability through technicality, personal influence, or collective silence, this constitutional mandate is further diminished.

The challenge now is how to translate that anger into constructive civic action. Outrage alone changes nothing unless it matures into organized vigilance. Citizens, especially the young, must take advantage of the tools available to them to hold public officials accountable. Email lawmakers; let them know you are watching. Register your grievances respectfully but persistently. Use social media not only to vent frustration but to mobilize awareness and amplify legitimate demands for transparency. Enough with the muckraking and mudslinging and elevate political discourse to spur reforms.

Corruption is not merely a financial crime; it is a betrayal that robs citizens of their future. It bleeds the public coffers, sabotages health care, weakens resiliency to natural calamities, and destroys faith in democracy. Each time a corrupt official escapes accountability, the message is clear: public service has become private gain. Hence, the need for more initiatives like Youth Against Kurakot or YAK!. The greater battle, however, cannot be ignored. Congress must be rescued from political dynasty domination.

The 2028 elections will offer another chance to dismantle the dynastic stranglehold over politics and governance. It is not enough to complain about corruption; people must start searching now for replacements—leaders with competence and integrity. Dynastic incumbents, who have mastered the art of protecting themselves while impoverishing their constituents, must now be voted out of office. If it helps, then the enlightened and empowered electorate can do that with love.