Both the President and the Vice President have shared their thoughts about 2028, with the President assuring us that he will support someone who will continue his so-called anti-corruption campaign.

For Vice President Sara Duterte, however, it is different. She revealed that she has already asked someone to serve as her vice president. She gave a hint: this person, she said, will go after—or perhaps prosecute or persecute—those whom she cryptically described as the people who “made us like this.”

Two supposed leaders, two very different views of 2028.

Marcos Junior wants someone who will continue his anti-corruption campaign.

The thing is, what anti-corruption campaign is he talking about?

Is Marcos referring to the approach his administration is taking, in which our regulatory and investigative agencies take nearly a year just to file cases?

Is he referring to a spectacle campaign where certain people are singled out and charged with plunder while others seem to escape scrutiny?

Of the fifteen contractors named by our President in connection with the flood-control scandal, how many are now languishing in jail?

The fact is, one of those named has even been awarded a ₱10-billion EDSA rehabilitation project despite allegations linking him to the flood-control controversy.

Marcos Junior cannot even assure us that this person will soon face the full force of the law.

If that is the kind of anti-corruption campaign that Mr. Marcos and his elite clique are talking about, then we are all damned.

And how about Ms. Duterte’s pronouncement about a political partner whom she expects to run against those whom she cryptically referred to as the “people who made us like this”?

Is she referring to herself?

Obviously, it is not “us.”

Why?

Because if she is describing the people who made our lives worse, then, Ms. Duterte—you are part of that group.

Your continued non-performance hurts us.

Your handling of public funds has raised serious questions that cannot simply be brushed aside.

And then you expect to be president?

It is time for us—the people—to reject these kinds of leaders.

Never.

Never again.

Instead of telling us who they want to succeed them or whom they want as their political partners, we, the People, expect them to tell us how they intend to change the very system and institutions that have been causing our societal headaches for generations.

We need long-term solutions.

We already know that changing personalities does not work.

What we need now is systemic change.

Change the very institutions that elites and oligarchs have exploited for their own selfish enrichment.

What we need to hear from the President is not simply who he wants to succeed him.

We need to hear how he intends to address rampant corruption through institutional change—so that future generations will not suffer as we are suffering today.

Because if we do not change our circumstances now, this country could end up in an even more chaotic and despicable place.

And by then, changing one politician for another will no longer be enough.

We need to change the system.

And we need to start now.