Former Senator Gregorio Honasan believes that, in order to address corruption, Filipinos and their leaders must be united in improving everyday life for everyone, he said on Saturday.

“Hindi ito pro-BBM, anti-BBM, pro-PRRD, anti-PRRD, pro-China, anti-China. Hindi ko masyadong naririnig ‘yung pro-Filipino. Doon dapat tayo mag-focus,” he said during an interview on Special on Saturday.

Honasan said that countries like Singapore and Israel have been united by the need to survive—Singapore due to its lack of resources and Israel because of hostile neighbors—steering them towards good governance.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is an archipelago, with regions divided by bodies of water and political and economic powers concentrated in Imperial Manila—as designed by the Spaniards, he said.

“Pag hindi sila nagkaisa, ubos sila. Tayo? Archipelago. Lahat ng banta sa’tin, domestically or globally, kailangan tumawid ng bodies of water. So kulang tayo sa sense of nationhood,” said the former lawmaker.

“Kailangan talaga, bago tayo maging Ilocano, Bicolano, Bisaya, Pilipino tayo muna,” he stressed the need for loyalty to the nation, and not just local communities.

He added that the farthest behind must be prioritized, so everyone rises together.

“Ang unahin mo, para inclusive, sabay-sabay ang pag-angat, ‘yung pinakamalayo, pinakamahirap, at pinakamaliit. Pag inuna mo ‘yun, siyempre ‘yun ang classic management theory na ito ‘yung panandalian na sakripisyo para sa pangmatagalan na benefit,” Honasan explained.

Conversely, corruption undermines the country’s progress in many aspects, the statesman went on. It stunts economic growth, preempts aid for calamity victims such as those in Cebu, and discourages investors from entering the local market.

“The problems of this country are economic in nature—food, clothing, shelter, health, education, data—but the first step should be political,” Honasan said.

The “Trillion Peso March 2.0” and “Baha sa Luneta 2.0” rallies will be taking place tomorrow, November 30.