The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Tracy Cabrera
Civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia came out swinging against lawmakers critical of Malacañang, accusing them of using political theatrics to mask their own failures.
Goitia—chairman emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement—said the latest attacks on the executive branch reek of hypocrisy.
“The recent spins are nothing more than a desperate diversion. Instead of cleaning their own ranks, they attack the Executive Secretary and the Cabinet, hoping to distract the public from the rot within their own institution,” he said.
At the center of the controversy is Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, whom Goitia described as “synonymous with integrity.” A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bersamin’s record, he noted, has always been guided by law, fairness, and the defense of democracy.
“To malign him with baseless accusations is an insult not only to his office but to the very ideals of good governance,” Goitia stressed, echoing the Cabinet’s pointed reminder to Congress: “Clean your house first”.
The civic leader warned that no probe will succeed if lawmakers ignore the corruption festering within their own chamber. “How can they demand accountability from others when they themselves have yet to answer for their own betrayals of public trust?” he asked.
Goitia further emphasized that the controversy must not derail President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for transparency and reform. “PBBM’s call is simple: honest leadership in service of the Filipino people. Those who wish to sabotage this effort are not only undermining the President—they are betraying the nation,” he said.
He concluded that the fight goes beyond personalities or factions. “The Filipino people deserve leaders who stand for truth, not political theater. In this battle, the Executive Secretary and the Cabinet stand on the side of justice, integrity, and the Filipino nation,” Goitia declared.