The famous words of former U.S. President Harry S. Truman—"You can’t get rich in politics unless you are a crook."—resonate with a painful familiarity in the Philippine context. Published in a commentary on January 13, 2026, this stark assertion invites a critical examination of the wealth accumulated by the country's elected officials.
The Unavoidable Syllogism of Philippine Politics
Truman, the 33rd U.S. President known for his personal honesty, confronted rampant corruption upon taking office in 1944. Applying his logic to the Philippines creates a compelling argument. The major premise is Truman's quote itself. The minor premise is an observable fact: many, if not most, Filipino politicians become rich or significantly richer while in office. The inevitable conclusion is that many, if not most, are crooks.
This minor premise is widely seen as incontrovertible. The visible trajectory of numerous officials from modest means to immense wealth is a common narrative. The validity of the damning conclusion, however, hinges entirely on the truth of Truman's major premise.
A System Designed for Corruption
The commentary argues strongly that Truman's premise is not only true but validated by the chronic history of governmental corruption in the Philippines. The political system itself is identified as the core enabler, with dishonesty and corruption ingrained in its structure.
An analogy is drawn to the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, where a single party's control of Congress undermined checks and balances. However, a key difference is highlighted: American parties are ideology-based, allowing voters to potentially "drain the swamp" by switching power. In the Philippines, the major parties are ideologically nondescript and represent the same interests—those of big capitalists and landowners.
The Permanent Philippine Swamp
This leads to the central dysfunction. After elections, officials readily shift to the party of the sitting President, ensuring no credible internal opposition. The President, with everyone "licking his boots," gains overwhelming control. Consequently, elections do not change the government's direction or the system's nature. They merely rotate the personalities who benefit from it.
The temptation to engage in corruption is so fundamentally built into this framework that many politicians seamlessly succumb. The system perpetuates itself, ensuring the swamp is never drained but only grows filthier, becoming a more perfect environment for corruption to thrive.
The implied call to action is clear: without a fundamental change to the system itself, the cycle of politicians entering public service and exiting with vastly increased wealth will continue indefinitely, proving Truman's cynical observation correct generation after generation.
