The political atmosphere across the nation has reached a fever pitch, fueled not just by ideological divides, but by the stinging realities of economic decay and infrastructural collapse. At the center of the mounting public anger is a blistering critique launched by former Presidential Executive Secretary, Attorney Vic Rodriguez, who has leveled one of the most comprehensive and emotionally charged indictments against the current administration to date. His message is clear: The government operates on a cynical strategy of denial, deflection, and discrediting critics—a system he bluntly refers to as pure “propaganda.”

Rodriguez’s critique isn’t merely political rhetoric; it is anchored in the disastrous consequences witnessed across the country, from the shocking decline in economic health to the heartbreaking failures of flood control systems. For millions of citizens already grappling with rising costs and insecurity, Rodriguez’s voice cuts through the spin, connecting the dots between backroom political scandal and the chaos on the streets.

The Triple Threat: Denial, Deflection, and Demolition
Attorney Rodriguez asserts that the current administration has perfected a three-pronged strategy to manage—or rather, mismanage—public perception and dodge accountability. This strategy ensures that, regardless of the severity of the crisis, the leadership remains protected from criticism.

1. The Propaganda of Denial: The first and most brazen tactic is outright denial, even when the evidence is literally washing up in public view. Rodriguez argues that the nation’s trajectory is fundamentally broken, stating that “walang patutunguhan ang ating bansa Hindi tayo makakaasa ng anumang pag-unlad sapagkat nakatutok sa maling direksyon ng ating bansa” (our country has no direction, we cannot expect any progress because our country is focused on the wrong direction).

He points specifically to the catastrophic failure of public works, noting that officials “dine-deny din nila na ito ay naganap sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon” (they also deny that this happened under the current administration) regarding the “anomalous flood control funds” and reports of “missing or substandard or ghost flood control projects.” For the public, these words translate to the visceral frustration felt every time heavy rains cause another devastating flood. As critics powerfully argue, “We have floods again because the flood control was corrupted again.” The denial, therefore, becomes an insult to the injured.

2. The Art of Deflection: When denial becomes impossible, the administration pivots to deflection—a relentless effort to shift blame away from itself. Rodriguez describes this maneuver as a mandate to “deflect o ipasa mo magturo ka kahit sino ituro mo kahit sino throw him throw her throw them under the bus huwag lang ang kasalukuyang administrasyon” (deflect or pass it off, point at anyone, throw him, throw her, throw them under the bus, just not the current administration).

This tactic, according to the former Palace official, is pervasive, utilizing mainstream media and political allies to create confusion and target opposition figures. Rodriguez highlights the brazen attempt to deflect attention from the Cebu flooding disaster by commissioning an investigation in Davao instead, an act he calls “walang hiya” (shameless), asserting the true goal was simply to “discredit Sid Ungab”, a Congressman who had exposed budget anomalies.

3. The Campaign to Discredit and Demolish: Finally, those who refuse to be silenced are subjected to a campaign of demolition. Rodriguez warns that when critics challenge the official narrative, the response is simple: “discredit mo” (discredit you), labeling truthful reporting as “fake news.” He specifically addressed the trolls recruited to spread the administration’s version of reality, though he also offered a sarcastic invitation: “trolls are all you’re all welcome to visit my page to engage and thank you for always watching.” He concluded, however, that these trolls are merely performing a job, seeking “madaling pera kagaya ng mga amo ninyo” (easy money like your bosses).

The Economic Collapse: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Rodriguez insists that this pervasive system of propaganda is facing an insurmountable enemy: “lumabas na po ang numero” (the numbers have come out). He argues that economic data offers irrefutable proof that the administration’s claims of competence are false.

The Crushing GDP Drop: The most damning evidence presented by Rodriguez is the national GDP figure for the third quarter, which has plummeted to a mere “4% na lamang” (just 4%), a sharp decline from the previous 5.5% and a return to the “pinakamababang gdp” (lowest GDP) in many years.

He links this economic paralysis directly to political failure, citing Director Perival K. Peñareyz of the Ateneo Center for Research and Development, who stated unequivocally: “investor confidence has been shaken. Period.”

Rodriguez attributes this crisis not to global markets, but to the domestic political environment, specifically the “lantaran talamak at higitup na pagnanakaw korupsyon at kurakot na ating nasasaksihan sa kasalukuyang administrasyon” (the blatant, rampant, and excessive theft, corruption, and fraud that we are witnessing in the current administration). He warns that “Foreign investors are pulling back” because the atmosphere of “political risks, uncertainty… and social unrests” threatens the country’s “investment grade rating,” ensuring that future borrowing will become cripplingly expensive.

The $1.3 Trillion Swindle: A Cosmetic Cover-Up
In response to the economic figures, the administration announced a frantic, last-minute plan to release 1.3 trillion in program spending, supposedly to lift the economy before the year’s end. Rodriguez was quick to dismiss this, labeling it as a desperate “pambubudol” (swindle).

The criticism centers on the timeline’s sheer impossibility. Rodriguez asks the fundamental question: “Paano mo uubusin ang 1.3 trillion… less than 2 months to go?” (How will you spend 1.3 trillion… with less than 2 months to go?). He asserts that the spending is not a genuine economic policy, but a cynical, cosmetic effort “for this administration to have some win before the end of the year and have a semblance at the very least of economic growth.” It is a visible attempt to conjure a positive narrative—a final burst of propaganda—to mask the reality of the collapsing GDP.

Accountability: Demanding Justice, Rejecting Nonsense
The underlying theme of Rodriguez’s argument is the fundamental need for accountability and truth in governance. He criticizes the administration’s focus on maintaining a positive public image while actively punishing those who seek to expose anomalies in critical areas, such as the 2025 National Budget.

In a poignant moment, Rodriguez mocks the perceived triviality and superficiality of some officials. He specifically targets the chairman of an agency (ICI) who, when asked about the national crisis, offered the empty platitude: “what the world needs now is love.”

Rodriguez concludes with a powerful rejection of this superficiality, declaring that the people are not looking for trivial romance; they are demanding justice. The call from the populace is for “justice, transparency and full accountability”—not “Kabaduyan mo ‘yan” (your trash/nonsense).

The confrontation highlights a desperate struggle for the soul of the nation’s political landscape: a battle between the government’s immense machinery of propaganda and denial and the stark, undeniable numbers and real-world consequences that reveal the true cost of corruption. For Attorney Vic Rodriguez, the era of swindling the public must end, replaced by the grim necessity of governance that is honest, competent, and most critically, accountable to the people drowning in the failures of its making.