‘Confront corruption in every single place you see it’

‘Our politics is so damaged that it has really change into snug with inequality,’ says Senator Risa Hontiveros on the Social Good Summit 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Deputy Majority Chief Risa Hontiveros urged Filipinos to remain sturdy, dedicated, and united within the struggle in opposition to corruption throughout her tackle on the Social Good Summit 2025 on Sunday, November 16.

Hontiveros known as on the general public to be relentless in demanding higher from their leaders and to immerse themselves and stand with society’s most marginalized.

“The Philippines doesn’t belong to any political dynasty. It doesn’t belong to warlords, nor to oligarchs, nor to the loudest trolls. This nation is ours,” she mentioned.

Hontiveros famous that a number of suppose tanks have flagged corruption as a pervasive and long-standing drawback within the Philippines on the expense of unusual Filipinos.

She cited a latest Social Climate Stations survey, which discovered that half of Filipino households think about themselves poor, whereas one other survey in June discovered that 16.1% skilled involuntary starvation.

“These numbers are revealing an simple reality: Our politics is so damaged that it has really change into snug with inequality,” she mentioned.

Hontiveros famous that folks in a number of different international locations reminiscent of Nepal, Indonesia, and Kenya are actually looking for accountability and justice from their very own public officers.

“Bakit tayo ang mahihiyang magsumbong? ‘Yung mga magnanakaw ang dapat mahiya,” she mentioned. (Why ought to we be ashamed of reporting the corrupt? Thieves are those who must be ashamed.)

On the Senate, the higher chamber is looking for a Senate joint decision which would require an open livestream of bicameral convention committee conferences that had been as soon as closed to the general public.

Hontiveros additionally famous that each one 24 senators launched their statements of property, liabilities and web price for the primary time in a few years. (READ: Who’re the richest, poorest senators of the twentieth Congress in 2025?)

“All of those legislative reforms should be joined by cultural and social shifts amongst all of us. All of us have an obligation – to learn, to talk out, and to assist these in want,” she mentioned.

In the meantime, Hontiveros cited Senate Invoice 141, which she authored, looking for a regulation on the implementation of a common social pension for all senior residents.– Rappler.com

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