MANILA—Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the government’s anti-corruption campaign should uphold not only the call of the business sector but also the welfare of ordinary Filipino taxpayers who continue to pay taxes, including the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT).

Lacson made the statement after 34 business groups and associations signed a resolution urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take “swift, decisive action” against corruption, describing it as more than a financial loss but a “fatal breach of public trust.”

“I couldn’t agree more with the business sector except that they should not only be speaking on their behalf but for the tens of millions of individual taxpayers including every Filipino that cannot escape the 12% VAT or consumer tax that we all pay in exchange for goods and services that we deal with on a daily basis,” Lacson said.

The business groups called on the government to empower the Independent Commission for Infrastructure with full legal authority and independence free from political influence, prosecute all those responsible regardless of rank or position, implement institutional reforms, recover ill-gotten wealth, and strengthen procurement and oversight systems.

Lacson also emphasized the need to maintain public vigilance against corruption, warning that complacency could embolden those involved.

“In the midst of all the acts of corruption being exposed on a regular basis that seem to cut across almost all implementing agencies entrusted with public funds, we should sustain the momentum of guarding against any and all shenanigans by monitoring and reporting the same, if not to the concerned authorities, directly to the Filipino people so those responsible may be shamed, prosecuted and put behind bars,” he said.

“Lowering our guard, and worse, forgetting after reaching this far in terms of awareness and inciting public anger is no longer an option,” he added.

Lacson had earlier delivered two privilege speeches detailing alleged corruption in flood control projects and how some individuals involved had gambled away public funds in casinos.