The case of a father in Kalinga caught stealing a box of baby milk for his son has been juxtaposed with the actions of public officials implicated in the ongoing flood control corruption scandal.
Reports said that a single father from Tabuk City, Kalinga, was arrested on October 30 for allegedly stealing a 1.725-kilogram box of baby milk at a local supermarket.
According to the police, the suspec explained that he had no job after completing a construction project and had been left to care for his son after his wife abandoned them.
In its statement, the police said that Tabuk City police chief Lt. Col. Jack Angog “settled the amount of the stolen item to prevent the suspect from being imprisoned and give him a chance to start anew.”
The identity of the suspect and the exact amount of the stolen baby milk were not disclosed.
The report caught the attention of a Filipino Reddit user, who shared it on the “r/Philippines” community. There, some members drew comparisons to the case of public officials implicated in the corruption scandal involving the country’s flood control projects.
Father nabbed for stealing baby milk, released after police chief pays
byu/Rare_Independent0310 inPhilippines
“Stealing a box of baby milk may land you in jail, but stealing billions from infra [infrastructure] projects won’t,” a Redditor wrote.
“Samantalang ‘yung bilyones ang ninakaw, wala lang,” another commented.
“Pero ‘yung mga korap, ‘di mapakulong,” a different Redditor said.
“Samantalang [‘yung] mga nag nakaw ng bilyon, gumagala pa din,” another Pinoy commented.
“Ilang buwan na ‘yung flood control project issues, wala pa din nakukulong, nubayan [ano ba ‘yan],” another said.
The Reddit post has earned 6,400 upvotes, over 200 comments, and an award from a user.
Flood control corruption
Meanwhile, it has been months since both chambers of Congress initiated probes into the alleged corruption surrounding the country’s flood control projects under the Marcos administration.
Last July, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called attention to certain contractors who had secured the most flood control projects, pointing out that many of these initiatives were missing key details.
The congressional probes have since exposed corrupt activities, including suitcases of cash allegedly being delivered to certain lawmakers, such as resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co and Sen. Joel Villanueva.
The investigations have also led to Filipinos scrutinizing the lavish lifestyles of some government contractors, including Sarah and Curlee Discaya, who are known for their collection of luxury cars, and individuals with contractor parents, like content creators Claudine Co and Jammy Cruz, who flaunt their designer items.
In September, the president formed the Independent Infrastructure Commission (ICI) to further investigate the issue.
So far, the ICI has submitted three reports to the Office of the Ombudsman, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting public officials accused of crimes such as graft and corruption.
The ICI also recommended administrative charges for grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, and “conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service” against former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan in connection with the issue.
