Legarda: Tapat na Paglilingkod Act game-changer in fight vs corruption

Sen. Loren Legarda.

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda underscored the urgency of mainstreaming the discourse on corruption as she filed the Tapat na Paglilingkod Act, a measure that seeks to institutionalize preventive, systems-based reforms across all government agencies.

Legarda said that the recurring anomalies that surface, from the billions of pesos lost to corruption and substandard works in flood control and other infrastructure spending, only paint a picture of how deeply corruption is embedded in the system.

“Today, it is the Department of Public Works and Highways that is at the center of attention, but the reality is that this problem cuts across many agencies. Each has its own schemes and modes of gaming the system. Unscrupulous individuals in government find ways to profit from their positions, and the Filipino people are left to pay the price,” Legarda stressed.

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The senator emphasized that the Tapat na Paglilingkod Act is a game-changer because it does not merely rely on penal laws that punish corruption after the fact. Instead, it complements existing criminal and legal frameworks by addressing corruption at its very root. The measure seeks to embed preventive measures, map systemic vulnerabilities, and develop agency-specific safeguards to stop abuses before they even happen.

“Right now, we are left only with legal tools to penalize corruption. Rarely do we attempt to nip the problem in the bud or strike at its very core. This measure goes further. It seeks to assess strategically and in a developmental manner where corruption stems from, and embed strategies that will really combat it. That is how we shift the culture of governance,” Legarda said.

She added that the fight against corruption must not silence honest and well-meaning public servants.

“We should not be afraid to talk about corruption. The good people in government must feel empowered to speak up and act with integrity. It is the perpetrators who should be fearful, because they are the ones undermining public trust. By creating systems that protect integrity and hold wrongdoing accountable, we build a culture where honesty is the norm and corruption is the risk,” Legarda said.

Investigations and prosecutions

Legarda also raised the question of what happens after investigations and prosecutions.

“What happens next when you remove these people after all the dust has settled, when cases have been filed, and when individuals have been removed or jailed? If the very system that bred or allowed these practices to thrive remains intact, then we cannot expect any major change. That is why we must strike at the very heart of the problem and address the systems that continue to permit and proliferate corruption. This is not a short-term or temporary fix. It is a long-term solution that aims to truly dismantle the roots of corruption,” she explained.

The Tapat na Paglilingkod Act will require institutions to identify corruption risks, mainstream integrity-building measures, and ensure that accountability is not an afterthought but a daily practice in governance.

Legarda further emphasized that, just like the issues of gender, climate, and culture which she has championed in her four terms in the Senate, meaningful change begins with discourse.

“Every reform I have fought for in my four terms in the Senate, whether on gender equality, climate action, or the promotion of our cultural heritage, started with talking about the problem, making it part of the national conversation, and building solutions around that awareness. Corruption should be no different. We must embed anti-corruption principles in our institutions, empower those who want to serve honestly, and set up safeguards so that abuses are not repeated,” she said.

The Senator concluded that mainstreaming the fight against corruption will not only restore public trust in government, but also protect the national budget from wastage, ensuring that every peso redounds to the benefit of the Filipino people.

“The Tapat na Paglilingkod Act is about building a culture of integrity in government. It is about ensuring that public service is always and only for the people,” Legarda said.