Joy Barcoma calls out corruption in PH: ‘Kinukuha niyo talaga lahat’

Former Miss Earth Philippines Joy Barcoma has had enough of corruption in the country, saying that ordinary Filipinos should not be made to carry the burden of inefficiencies in government services. 

Speaking with Bianca Gonzalez in the latter’s “Paano Ba ‘To” podcast, the beauty queen and host said she finds it unfair for farmers, fishermen, construction workers, and other laborers to just be asked to “work harder” to succeed in life.

“‘Sipagan niyo kasi.’ Anong tingin niyo sa magsasaka? Anong tingin niyo sa mangingisda? Anong tingin niyo sa mga construction workers, hindi ba masipag ‘yan sa inyo? Nakakainis ‘yung [sasabihin nila na], ‘Hindi kasi kayo masipag eh,'” she said. 

Barcoma also expressed her frustration with a government official’s earlier suggestion to have a Noche Buena meal for P500, saying that Filipinos deserve abundance during the Christmas season instead of always living in scarcity.

“‘Yung P500 na Noche Buena? Bakla, ikaw kaya ang maghanda niyan. Ikaw ang kumain niyang P500,” she said. “At saka kahit sabihin mong kasya, deserve ba ‘yan ng mga Pinoy for a Noche Buena? Eh Noche Buena is a feast, may feast ba na isang putahe?”

Dismayed at how “detached” some government officials are from reality, Barcoma pointed out that dole-outs are not solutions to poverty in the Philippines. 

“Nakakainit ng ulo sa sobrang detached ng mga taong may kakayahang baguhin ‘yung quality ng buhay ng mga Pinoy, sobrang detached nila sa reality. Na hindi nila naiintindihan na, ‘Huy, ‘yung mga polisiya niyo hindi na gumagana sa panahon ngayon. ‘Yung mga ginagawa niyo hindi na ‘yan para sa mga Pilipino ngayon. ‘Yung mga ayu-ayuda na ‘yan hindi na ‘yan nagwo-work. Utang na loob,” she said. 

“Okay lang sanang may ayuda pero samahan niyo naman ng trabaho. Samahan niyo naman ng pagbabago, ng infrastructure improvement, ng education.”

Barcoma went on to stress how corruption in the country goes far beyond financial loss: “Kinukuha niyo talaga lahat… Kapag ‘yung sa corruption hindi niyo lang ninanakaw ‘yung pondo ng bayan. Ninanakaw niyo ‘yung oras, ninanakaw niyo ‘yung quality of life, ninanakaw niyo ‘yung buhay na dapat nili-live ng mga normal na mamamayan.”

“So lahat kinuha niyo, pati future nila.”

Watch her interview below:

Barcoma has always been vocal about about her thoughts on corruption in the country.

During her reign as Miss Philippines Earth, she refused to be discouraged by some pageant fans from talking about politics, even if it might cost her the crown.

“I owe it to our people to fight and speak up for Filipinos,” she stressed.