October 10, 2025 l The Manila Times
During a brief family tour in Seoul and Busan, South Korea, what struck me was the media report on the appearance of its former first lady in a corruption trial, one issue of which is her alleged acceptance of a luxury Dior bag and jewelry.
Protests are ongoing, with the populace closely watching of the proceedings.
It has become almost routine in South Korea: presidents and first ladies summoned to court, indicted, and sometimes jailed for corruption or abuse of power. It is a striking display of accountability in a democracy that has seen its share of turmoil, but has built institutions strong enough to hold the powerful to account.
In the Philippines, by contrast, corruption scandals break out in headlines with predictable regularity, only to sink into the swamp of prolonged investigations, endless appeals, and eventual compromise. The current flood control and infrastructure scandal, with obscene amounts in public funds involved, risk becoming yet another episode in this cycle — unless we learn from Korea’s example.
Consider the Korean record.
1995–1997: Former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo are convicted of mutiny, treason, and massive corruption.
2009: Roh Moo-hyun, another former president, faces a bribery probe. The investigation is so relentless he takes his own life.
2018: Park Geun-hye, impeached and removed from office in 2017, is sentenced to 25 years in prison for corruption linked to her confidante Choi Soon-sil.
2018: Lee Myung-bak, yet another ex-president, is convicted of bribery and embezzlement.
2022–2023: First lady Kim Keon-hee is investigated over graft like stock manipulation, underscoring that presidential spouses are not beyond reach.
The message is clear: public office in Korea does not shield you once you step down. Accountability is both expected and enforced.
Now, the Philippine story.
2001: Then-president Joseph Estrada is ousted and later convicted of plunder in 2007 — only to be pardoned by his successor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
2011–2016: Arroyo herself is detained and charged with plunder, but the Supreme Court later dismisses the case.
2013–2014: The PDAF/Napoles pork barrel scam erupts, implicating senators and congressmen. More than a decade later, cases crawl at the Sandiganbayan.
2025: Massive corruption in flood-control projects is under investigation, with suspects’ assets frozen. Yet citizens already whisper what they fear: that the grind will be long, and justice uncertain.
In Korea, scandals end with convictions. In the Philippines, they linger, decay, or dissolve.
Institutions
The divergence is not about national character. It is about institutions.
Korean prosecutors wield broad investigative authority, supported by courts willing to rule against sitting and former leaders. Citizens and civil society amplify the pressure — recall the “candlelight protests” that pushed Park Geun-hye out of office. The synergy of law, judiciary, media, and public outrage creates a system where accountability has teeth.
Here at home, the architecture is weaker. The Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan, the Commission on Audit, and investigative agencies are fragmented and subject to political pressure. Cases are stretched by procedural loopholes and a culture of appeals that delay resolution for years, sometimes decades. Patronage networks shield the accused. Pardons and dismissals blunt deterrence.
Reforms
If the Philippines wants the current wave of floodgate investigations to mean more than headlines, reforms must be bold, not cosmetic.
Insulate prosecutors from politics. Appointments to the Ombudsman and special anti-graft prosecutors must be shielded from political whims. Without independence, investigations will always be hostage to power plays.
Accelerate trials. The Sandiganbayan is drowning in backlogs. Expand its capacity, impose statutory deadlines for corruption cases, and curb dilatory appeals. Justice delayed is justice denied — and deterrence lost.
Protect whistleblowers. No corruption case survives without insiders speaking out. Strengthen witness protection and pass comprehensive whistleblower legislation. Fear silences truth.
Freeze and recover assets swiftly. Recent asset-freeze measures are encouraging. But unless asset recovery is streamlined, ill-gotten wealth will keep slipping through. The state must ensure the corrupt cannot enjoy their loot while cases drag on.
Enforce accountability across the board. There can be no sacred cows — not presidents, not legislators, not spouses. Korea proves that equal application of the law is the strongest deterrent.
Crossroads
The Philippines stands at a crossroads. The flood-control scandal exposes the vulnerabilities of our infrastructure spending and the brazenness of those who exploit public trust. If this case, like many before it, ends in drawn-out litigation, plea bargains, or outright pardons, the cycle of impunity will deepen.
But if institutions can deliver timely convictions, the lesson to public officials will be unmistakable: stealing from the people is not a calculated risk but a certain downfall.
The people are watching. The floodgates are open. What happens next will determine whether our republic can finally break the chains of impunity.
***The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX. For comments, email benel_dba@yahoo.com. Photo is from Pinterest.