Alexander Bonifacio

There is a certain audacity in the way public officials explain the mismanagement of our nation's funds—an almost comedic confidence in the absurdity of their reasoning. Take, for instance, the recent revelation that a significant sum has been siphoned from PhilHealth, the national health insurance system, and is now, by their own admission, gone. But fear not, they say! The missing funds will be included in next year's budget. How reassuring! What an elegant solution! Except, wait—where will this budget allocation come from? The answer is as predictable as it is infuriating: from our taxes. That is, the money taken from PhilHealth, the contributions of millions of Filipinos over decades, has been used up—on what, we can only speculate—and now, they will replace it using fresh funds from us, the taxpayers. Let’s break this down: We paid into PhilHealth to secure healthcare coverage. The government took that money and used it elsewhere. Now, instead of recovering the...

Political legitimacy is not derived from brute force or inherited status; it is contingent on public trust, a commodity that, once depleted, is nearly impossible to recover. The latest opinion polls suggest that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is rapidly exhausting this essential resource. Reports indicate that his approval rating has plummeted to unprecedented lows, with some suggesting a catastrophic decline into single digits. This is not merely a statistical aberration—it is a profound indictment of his administration. For context, no Filipino president in the post-Marcos era has ever experienced such a precipitous collapse in public approval. Historically, even the most controversial leaders have maintained a baseline level of support, often bolstered by patronage networks, propaganda mechanisms, and the inertia of entrenched political structures. That Marcos Jr. has failed to sustain even this artificial cushion speaks volumes about the growing public disillusionment. Approval ...

The Commission on Audit (COA), the supreme audit institution of the Philippines, has released its independent auditor’s report on the financial statements of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. The findings are clear: an unmodified opinion, confirming that the OVP’s financial statements fairly present its financial position in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs). Breakdown of the COA Report Key Elements: 1. Header: The COA logo prominently displayed. Official name: Commission on Audit, Republic of the Philippines. Address: Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City. Title: INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT. 2. Addressee: The report is addressed to "The Honorable Vice President, Republic of the Philippines" with the specific address of the Office of the Vice President included. Opinion Section: The subject of the audit is the financial statements of the OVP as of December 31, 2023. The audit encompasses ke...

The issue of confidential funds allocated to Vice President Sara Duterte has sparked heated debates, particularly concerning the secrecy surrounding their use. One key concern raised by critics, including leftist lawmakers, is the anonymity of informants involved in intelligence operations. Some demand that their identities be revealed for the sake of transparency. But is this truly about accountability, or does it pose a grave security risk? Why Use Fictional Names? Confidential funds are, by definition, intended for covert operations. These funds support intelligence and surveillance efforts against criminal elements, insurgents, and other security threats. Informants—individuals who risk their lives to provide crucial intelligence—must remain anonymous to ensure their safety. To protect them, intelligence agencies and officials often use code names, pseudonyms, or even fictional names in financial records. This practice is not unique to Sara Duterte; it is a standard security meas...

The recent statements by AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, urging the Northern Luzon Command to "prepare for any eventuality" regarding a potential Taiwan conflict, should alarm every Filipino. His remarks—emphasizing that the Philippines will inevitably be drawn into a war due to its proximity to Taiwan and the presence of 250,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) there—highlight a grim reality: the Philippines is once again being positioned as a pawn in a geopolitical struggle where it has little to gain and everything to lose. U.S. Interests and the Philippines’ Role in a Proxy War The United States has a long history of securing its global hegemony through proxy conflicts, where smaller nations bear the human and economic cost of great power rivalries. Ukraine's ongoing war against Russia offers a sobering example. The U.S. supplied military aid, intelligence, and diplomatic support, but it is Ukraine that suffers destruction and loss of life. A similar fate may await the ...