The Philippine public has seen this tactic before. When a political group faces serious accountability, it doesn’t wait quietly. Instead, it creates a dramatic scene, adding characters and catchy labels to distract from the truth. The so-called "18 ex-Marines" claiming they delivered suitcases of cash worth 805 billion pesos in kickbacks are the latest, obvious example of this play.
Let’s be clear. The affidavits these 18 individuals submitted to the Ombudsman are not real whistleblowing. They are part of a political strategy aimed at diverting attention from Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. The timing is telling. For years, investigations into flood-control projects with ghost deliveries and shoddy construction were...
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