Kapuso journalist and documentarist Atom Araullo minced no words in criticizing some lawmakers and government officials for what he described as insincere reactions to corruption scandals.
In a Threads post on Wednesday, September 3, Araullo wrote: “Ang cringe ng performative outrage ng ibang mambabatas at opisyal natin. Eh sila naman yung nakikinabang sa korapsyon. Para namang kaming ipinanganak kahapon mga mamser.”
His statement quickly drew attention online, with many netizens echoing his sentiment.
“Magnanakaw rin ang nagtatanong sa isa pang magnanakaw. Isang malaking joke!” one user commented. Another added, “Kailan pa nagkaroon ng positive outcome yung mga hearings? Circus lahat ang senado. Nakakalungkot!”
Others pointed to grandstanding in the Senate and House hearings: “Performance level ang performative outrage. Very artista levels. Sarsuwela lang, puro palabas.”
The comments surfaced as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) faces scrutiny over alleged anomalous flood control projects. Former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan previously revealed that several contracts awarded to Wawao Builders, Inc. in Bulacan, worth ₱5.9 billion, turned out to be “ghost projects.”
DPWH Undersecretary for Planning Services Maria Catalina Cabral affirmed Bonoan’s statement during the Senate hearing when pressed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
