We’re back with Part 3 of the Maniobra Series, where we break down how power really works—not just in meetings or speeches, but in everyday deals and backroom talks.
Now, let’s talk about deals. As a once-popular online marketplace used to say: “Hanap. Usap. Deal.”
This applies not just to used furniture but also to politics and governance.
Some of our ideas of corruption are loosely shaped by old FPJ movies: sacks of money, shady characters, and backroom exchanges. That still happens.
But more often than not, corruption comes in the form of favors, placements, and contracts, or simply, “Pondo, Pwesto, at Proteksyon.”
Campaigns need money. In exchange, financiers expect access to projects, permits, or budget insertions. Legislators push for funding in their districts, but contracts are often awarded to companies linked to donors.
A 2023 COA report flagged billions in government projects with incomplete documentation, and many are tied to political negotiations. You don’t need to look far; just look at the tarpaulins of public projects stamped with familiar names.
That’s pondo at work, long before the ribbon is cut.
In return, they’re thanked with pwesto. Sometimes, this means formal positions—board seats, undersecretary posts, or placements in regulatory agencies. We’ve talked about accommodations and appointments before, but pwesto doesn’t always come with a title. It could also mean early access to bidding terms, preferred contractor status, or informal control over specific project pipelines.
These aren’t simple tokens—these are embedded advantages meant to guarantee political return on investment. Some don’t need to compete fairly—they already know the terms of reference before the bidding even begins.
Proteksyon completes the cycle. Here, political allies are shielded from scrutiny. COA findings stall, Ombudsman cases are quietly shelved, and audit reports vanish before they trigger action. Procurement violations are also labeled as lapses.
Meanwhile, critics face immediate charges, while loyalists move untouched. In a system built on favor-trading, impunity isn’t a flaw—it’s part of the structure.
Sometimes, this delay could be attributed to the wheels of justice turning painfully slow in the Philippines; other times, speculations are rampant.
That’s the cycle: Pondo fuels campaigns, Pwesto rewards loyalty, and Proteksyon keeps the network intact.
Up next, we will unpack how contracts and bids are used not just for profit but to secure votes.
