Corruption remained after EDSA — Panelo
Nothing has really changed, let’s be real. Let’s admit to ourselves. Did the problem in corruption stop? No
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo on Thursday belittled the outcome of the EDSA Revolution, saying “nothing has changed” since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was evicted from Malacañang 35 years ago.
Speaking in his daily online program “Counterpoint”, Panelo said: “Nothing has really changed, let’s be real. Let’s admit to ourselves. Did the problem in corruption stop? No,” he said. Panelo explained that the historic event that was copied by other nations that sought change cannot be called a revolution.
“If there’s a political upheaval, the intention and the consequence must be changed not only in the governance but in the political and economic structures,” he said.
“Did it happen? Did it happen after we ousted Marcos who was branded as dictator? Has the system changed?” he asked. “The only change that happened was who sat in the seat of power.”
“The problems were even inherited by the President (Rodrigo Duterte). Rampant corruption is the same with criminality and illegal drugs. The problem in illegal drugs shocked the President. He thought he could eradicate it in three to six months. It is too much. The past administrations have overlooked it,” he noted.
“Now, if we are to celebrate it because we are able to remove President Ferdinand Marcos in power... because of what his enemies were saying that he was a dictator and that he violated human rights... that is correct on that part. But not as a trigger for a change in political and economic structure,” he closed.