THE head of the Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives believes that eradicating corruption in the government goes beyond enacting more laws-it requires a moral awakening among Filipinos.
Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez said on Wednesday that corruption in the country is rooted in a moral crisis, where people’s sense of righteousness has been eroded by the normalization of corrupt practices.
‘Corruption is, ultimately, a moral crisis. To end it, we must rebuild our sense of righteousness-our belief that truth still matters, that decency still counts, and that no one is too small to make a stand,’ the lawmaker said in a statement.
He said that while legislation is important, it is ‘more conscience’ that is truly needed to address systemic corruption.
‘The solution is not just more laws, but more conscience. Moral renewal must begin in homes, schools, and public life. Integrity must be celebrated as much as corruption is condemned. We must make doing the right thing the rule again, not the exception,’ Benitez said.
He described corruption as ‘not just a failure of systems-it is a failure of conscience.’ He lamented that the Filipino people have lost their moral compass, and that once-noble values such as bayanihan, pakikisama, and utang na loob have been twisted into justifications for silence, favoritism, and complicity.
‘Tragically, we now witness it everywhere: bribes treated as ‘normal,’ cheating dismissed as ‘smart,’ and honesty ridiculed as ‘idealistic.’ When corruption becomes a way to survive, righteousness starts to look foolish-and the nation begins to rot from within,’ he added.
The lawmaker also pointed out that the country’s leadership mirrors this moral decay, as those who rise through corrupt systems often weaken the very moral foundations they should be upholding. Institutions such as schools, churches, and courts-once considered moral anchors-are also suffering from a loss of credibility.
Benitez said that the campaign against corruption must not be viewed merely as a political undertaking but as ‘a battle for the Filipino soul.’