A few years ago, a graduate student conducted a survey among employees of a large corporation. The survey posed a provocative question: “If you discovered that a fellow employee was involved in financial misconduct, would you report it to higher authorities?”

He was surprised to learn that the majority of respondents answered “no”.

More disturbing were the reasons behind their silence. Many believed that staying quiet helped preserve workplace harmony and protect their own interests. The graduate student concluded that the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,”seemed to have been replaced by a more self-serving principle: “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” or worse, “For the sake of peace, let’s keep quiet about our misdeeds.”

This mindset is reminiscent of the Mafia’s omertà, a code of silence that shields members from accountability and sustains a superficial peace based on mutual self-interest. Unfortunately, this culture of silence in the face of ethical violations, abuse of authority, or systemic corruption may also thrive in government institutions and agencies. This is aggravated by a psychological phenomenon known as “groupthink.”

Groupthink occurs when like-minded individuals (like politicians belonging to the same party) consider loyalty to their group and conformity to its dominant narrative as their highest value. The desire to maintain internal harmony suppresses critical thinking and discourages dissent. Feedback from outside the group is often met with suspicion or outright hostility. So, even if some members wish to express opposing views, they opt to remain silent to “keep the peace.” This creates a false sense of confidence, which can lead the group to make poor or even harmful decisions.

Recent exposés about poorly executed flood control projects, costing billions of pesos, have sparked public outcry, especially after the President vowed to get to the bottom of the issue. He promised that no friend or relative would be spared from the investigation. His words echoed a former president’s bold declaration in his inaugural address: “Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak na maaaring mag samantala sa bayan ngayon. Huwag ninyo akong subukan (‘No friend, no crony, no relative will be allowed to exploit the nation. Do not test me’).” He would learn too late that groupthink and the silence spawned by misplaced loyalty could defeat his best intentions.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a startling statement: “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division” (Luke 12:51). Here, Jesus challenges us to radically reorient our priorities, even when that means going against cultural norms or family expectations. True discipleship often leads to tension and division.

Jesus rejects the false peace that comes from silence and complicity. Authentic peace begins with truth, and often, with confrontation. History shows us that in regimes built on fear and silence, the absence of confrontation did not lead to peace. It only allowed injustice to spread and victims to suffer longer. In families, silence in the face of abuse can cause spiritual and moral decay. When silence is used to avoid conflict or to protect a corrupt status quo, it is far from neutral. In such cases, silence becomes complicity.

St. Thomas Aquinas wisely observed that we can harm others not only through violent acts, but by being dishonest in our words and intentions. He noted that even thieves and criminals may coexist without conflict, but they do not experience true peace. Peace grounded in truth is the only peace worth having. It may happen that speaking the truth can hurt others. But for Aquinas, the truth that hurts can also be the truth that heals.

Let us hope the President’s intention to uncover the truth behind the many anomalies and corrupt practices plaguing our country is pursued to its rightful end. As one market vendor wisely put it, “A good intention is admirable. The trouble is, you cannot eat it.”