Deputy Speaker and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Party-list Rep. Democratico Mendoza is backing President Marcos' efforts in clamping down on corruption in government infrastructure spending, especially in flood control projects.

Mendoza also welcomed House Speaker Martin Romualdez' commitment to open the national budget deliberations for public scrutiny, which he said is a sign of House leadership's efforts to fix longstanding problems in fund misuse and closed-door negotiations.

The House leader believed the fight against corruption must go beyond public posturing and must lead to real reforms in budget systems, along with the actual filing of cases against those proven to have stolen taxpayers’ money.

“We support the President’s call for accountability and the Speaker’s initiative to ensure transparency in the entire budget process," he said.

"These are concrete steps toward restoring public trust and putting an end to a culture of impunity," he added.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong recently alleged that corruption in government is "highly organized", and that some lawmakers receive 35 to 40 percent kickbacks from government projects.

But Mendoza made a response, saying that calls for accountability stemming from such an allegation must be anchored in evidence and due process, not in careless rhetoric that paints all lawmakers as guilty by association.

While it is right to demand transparency in the use of public funds, he said, it is equally important to avoid sweeping generalizations that undermine democratic institutions.

“We cannot allow sweeping generalizations to replace legitimate legal processes. Hindi pwedeng puro ingay lang (It cannot just be all noise). Justice is not served by reckless accusations; it’s served by truth, diligence and due process,” he added.

Mendoza knew corruption hurts workers more than most sectors. It robs them of the services, support and opportunities their taxes are meant to provide, he said.

“Every peso misused is a peso stolen from the daily wage earner. These are funds meant to build classrooms, clinics and roads in poor communities, or to ensure minimum wage earners can have access to better social services," he said.

"We cannot allow that to be siphoned off by corrupt deals," he added.

Mendoza cited Speaker Romualdez’s push for an "open bicam" and his recent resolution seeking civil society participation in budget deliberations.

He backed Romualdez’s call for the public to join the push for reforms by participating in budget hearings and helping ensure funds go to priority programs.