Enough of Alice Guo!

THE arrest of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo in the outskirts of Jakarta and her subsequent deportation to the Philippines has brought a sigh of relief to the country's law enforcement officials. As seen in his speeches, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is uncompromising in pursuing accountability and insisting on the dismissal and prosecution of those suspected of aiding Guo's escape, including her co-conspirators. Earlier this week, Philippine officials who had used public funds to travel to Jakarta were seen taking selfies with Guo, prompting strong criticism from senators and netizens who have grown increasingly frustrated with the drawn-out saga surrounding her case.

Legislative inquiries are conducted in aid of legislation. Similar to past hearings, Filipino taxpayers are wondering what good will come out of these hearings, where so much time, money and manpower had been spent. With less than a year before midterm elections, the POGO investigations, which started with the best intentions, are now being used by politicians and other public officials to grandstand or catapult themselves to higher offices. Its contribution to a better quality of life escapes the mind of many observers.