Santiago warns of ‘failed state’ if ‘pork’ plunder charges delayed

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. SENATE POOL FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines might become a “failed state” if the senators and congressmen in pork barrel scam would succeed in delaying the plunder charges filed against them in court, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

A “failed state,” Santiago said, was defined by Transparency International as one where the nation lacks an effective judicial system and rule of law.

“State failure can be caused by rampant corruption, predatory elites, who have long manipulated power, and an absence of the rule of law,” she said in her speech before the 50th anniversary of the Colegio de Sta. Rosa in Makati City on Friday.

As shown in the case of Guinea, Santiago said even a high economic growth rate will not save a state from failure “if economic prosperity is accompanied by a widening gap between the rich and the poor.”

The senator then gave as examples Burma and Haiti as states that failed because of corruption and repression.

“Political scientists have concluded that state collapse does not occur spontaneously. It is likely that complex and an erosion of state function precedes state collapse,” she said.

And in the case of the Philippines, Santiago expressed doubt that the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) and  Disbursement Acceleration Program scams would simply go away.

“In the past, they evoked strong political reaction but eventually tapered off until they were forgotten,” she said.

“I think that people today, who have grown sophisticated with the advent of social media and the import of ideas on governance by the overseas Filipino workers, will not allow these pork barrel abuses to fizzle out,” the senator added.