Veteran journalist Karen Davila didn’t hold back as she aired her frustration over the Philippines’ swelling national debt, which now stands at over ₱17 trillion. The broadcast anchor’s reaction came after Senator Win Gatchalian disclosed that the country’s debt burden has climbed significantly—translating to around ₱142,000 per Filipino.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Davila expressed concern that the staggering amount of debt is a burden unjustly placed on ordinary citizens. “Kawawa tayong mga Pilipino,” she wrote. “Imbes na mapunta sa edukasyon, pagkain, libreng pagpapagamot sa ospital… ayun, ang budget nasa bulsa ng maraming pulitiko.”
She continued, “Ninanakawan na tayo, tayo pa ang nagbabayad ng ninakaw nila,” stressing that corruption and misuse of public funds have long plagued the country, and citizens are the ones suffering the consequences.
Davila has been vocal in recent weeks about the alarming trend of political corruption and the extravagant enrichment of government contractors linked to fraudulent projects. In particular, she called out the billions funneled into so-called “ghost flood control projects”—a reference to infrastructure projects that exist only on paper.
“In other countries, those who steal from the government are imprisoned or commit harakiri. In the Philippines, they are envied,” she pointed out, urging the public to demand accountability. “Tama na,” she added, calling for an end to the culture of impunity.
Her comments come in the wake of ongoing investigations involving controversial businesswoman Sarah Discaya, whose construction companies have been implicated in alleged anomalies involving government-funded flood control projects. Multiple agencies have begun taking action against her firms.
