Politicians and Typhoon Relief- Exploitation of Aid

By: Atty. Joey V. Garcia
Founder and Senior Managing Partner, GERA Law​

As our nation rallies to support those devastated by the ravages of Typhoon Kristine, appeal is made to politicians, candidates, and aspirants for government positions to act with integrity in this time of crisis. With elections on the horizon, Filipinos urge that these politicians refrain from capitalizing on the tragedy and misfortune of our fellow citizens for personal visibility or political gain. 
 
The victims of this disaster are in desperate need of genuine, compassionate & unconditional aid, not hollow gestures or assistance clouded by a desire for recognition or social media accolades. Now is not the time for grandstanding. True charity is performed in silence, it does not seek acknowledgment or reward. For those in public office, providing relief to those in need is not an extraordinary act, it is simply the job they were elected to do. Politicians must remember that the resources they utilize in these relief efforts come from the people, funded by taxpayer money, not personal contributions. It is, therefore, their duty to serve without expectation of praise, without self-promotion, and certainly without emblazoning their names or faces on aid distributed to the affected. The resources they allocate to support our fellow citizens in need come from public funds, the taxes paid by the people. These funds are not personal gifts, and it is neither appropriate nor ethical for officials to portray this support as a generous act. This is government service in its purest form, funded by the people for the people. Our leaders must be held accountable to the true essence of public service-“compassion, humility, and integrity.” 
 
While Filipinos especially Bicolanos struggle to rebuild, the least politicians and aspirants could do is avoid using this tragedy as a backdrop for their self-promotion. It is disheartening to see aid packages with names or images of public officials stamped on them, as if helping is something extraordinary and not their fundamental duty. True charity must be carried out humbly and sincerely, without fanfare or the expectation of applause. If a leader’s heart is genuinely committed to service, they should assist quietly, without seeking recognition. For many of these officials, this is not charity, it is their job! It is their responsibility to aid their constituents as elected representatives, not a favor they bestow! 
 
The role of corruption in exacerbating the destruction Typhoon Kristine left behind cannot be ignored. The substandard infrastructure - roads, bridges, and buildings that crumbled under the typhoon’s force is a testament to the shortcuts taken for personal profit. Those who have enriched themselves through corrupt practices, compromising the quality of life and safety of the Filipino people, must remember that there is a reckoning. There is a justice greater than politics!  
 
Affected Filipinos especially Bicolanos call out those government agencies, officials, and contractors whose negligence, greed, and corrupt practices have contributed to the catastrophic damage of public infrastructure during the typhoon. Substandard construction, built for profit rather than safety, has no place in the hands of officials charged with the well-being of the Filipino people. To those who have enriched themselves at the expense of public safety, know that accountability will find you, if not through legal channels definitely via the inevitable karmic justice. 
 
Filipinos deserve real support, free from agendas and free from the taint of self-promotion, who uplift them in silence and support them in earnest, not for fame, but for the simple honor of serving the public. People ask all in positions of influence to set aside political ambitions, and act as servants of the people, not as beneficiaries of their suffering.