The Anatomy of a Betrayal: Exposing the P36 Billion Corruption and the Scandal of Silence

The political establishment has been rocked by what is being called the single biggest exposure of corruption in recent memory, delivered by a columnist whose courage has ignited a firestorm of national debate. Journalist Antonio Montalvan has stepped forward to publicly reveal a stunning network of alleged financial malfeasance tied to massive infrastructure projects, and his claims reach directly into the offices of some of the nation’s most powerful political families.

At the heart of the scandal is a staggering P36 Billion in alleged corruption connected to rock netting and road projects in the province of Benguet. Montalvan claims this staggering figure is linked to grossly overpriced contracts, painting a picture of systematic theft that has gone unchecked for years.

The Accused: Power, Projects, and Unchecked Access

Montalvan’s expose is damning because it names names, explicitly targeting individuals with massive political influence. At the center of the alleged scheme are two key political figures:

Representative Eric Yap: Montalvan claims Yap, who served as House of Appropriations Chair from 2020 to 2022, leveraged his powerful position to allegedly orchestrate the lucrative nature of the Benguet projects. Yap, who is not a Cordilleran, suddenly ran and won a congressional seat in Benguet in 2022. This move, according to the claims, was instrumental in ensuring control over the projects.
Representative Paolo Duterte: Yap’s alleged proximity to the former President’s son is cited as the source of his immense power. Montalvan claims that even the selection of the local District Engineer, a crucial position for controlling the flow of project funds, was allegedly influenced by the former President, who specifically named Yap as the one who picked the official. The narrative is clear: Control the appointments, control the funds, control the silence.

The scale of the alleged overpricing is breathtaking. Reports cited in the expose, based on information allegedly from Mayor Benjamin Magalong himself, suggest that some politicians were earning up to 70% in illicit cuts from the rock netting and construction materials used on mountain roads. This means that for every peso allocated, only a small fraction allegedly reached the actual infrastructure, leading to poor quality projects and massive personal enrichment.

The Scandal of Silence: Mayor Magalong Under Fire

While the allegations of theft are horrifying, the most controversial element of Montalvan’s expose is the accusation against Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. A respected figure who has cultivated an image of integrity and anti-corruption, Magalong is now facing intense public condemnation for alleged three years of calculated silence.

Montalvan asserts that as early as 2022, Mayor Magalong had told former Senator Antonio Trillanes the names of the specific, powerful individuals involved in the scandal. However, despite possessing this crucial information, the Mayor allegedly failed to take decisive action or publicly name the culprits, allowing the scheme to continue operating under the radar.

This silence has triggered a devastating public judgment, with Montalvan suggesting that Magalong has to “pay a certain price” for his alleged concealment. The public is asking:

Did Magalong fear the political repercussions of exposing such powerful figures?
Was he politically aligned with the accused, leading to a conflict of interest?
Or did he simply calculate that the cost of exposing the truth was too high for his own safety or political career?

The columnist argues that Magalong’s position as a well-known anti-corruption figure made his alleged failure to act an even deeper betrayal. His silence did not just hide the names; it allegedly protected the entire structure of a massive financial scheme for years, allowing billions to be improperly diverted. For the furious public, those who choose to conceal corruption are almost as culpable as those who commit it.

The Choice Between Truth and Political Survival

Montalvan’s fearless move to publish these claims forces a profound reckoning within the nation. The expose highlights the fragile nature of justice and the immense power wielded by political dynasties that can allegedly control both legislative funds and key local appointments. It shows how the promise of reform often collapses under the weight of political loyalty.

The journalist’s decision to risk his career and safety to name the accused puts an end to the “three years of covering up” and “three years of silence.” The massive P36 Billion figure, once hidden in budgetary obscurity, is now a front-page controversy. The focus is no longer just on the theft itself, but on the agonizing choice faced by those who know the truth: to speak out and risk everything, or to remain silent and become complicit in a systemic betrayal of the public trust.

Ultimately, Montalvan’s expose serves as a challenging reminder that the pursuit of justice requires more than good intentions; it demands unwavering courage to confront power, no matter the personal cost. The public now awaits a response from the accused, and a critical explanation from Mayor Magalong on his three years of alleged silence. The country is watching, demanding answers to who controlled the funds, and why the truth was allegedly suppressed for so long.