Residents of Tawi-Tawi were startled recently when a crocodile surfaced beneath a stilt house built over the sea. Yet the greater danger lies not in the reptiles of the water, but in the “crocodiles” lurking within government contracts.

These unseen predators are behind ghost projects—unfinished flood control initiatives, paper-only schemes that consumed billions, and infrastructure that exists only on documents. The result: flooded streets, disrupted communities, and taxpayers left drowning in losses.

Unlike the scaly beasts of the sea, these crocodiles wear barongs, suits, and ties. They walk the halls of power, smiling in public while quietly abusing the nation’s coffers. The Ombudsman has already warned of possible plunder cases against former high-ranking officials linked to irregularities in flood control projects. If proven, it will show that the floods were not only of water, but of corruption.

The lesson is clear: catching a crocodile in the sea is easier than catching one in government. These predators hide behind paperwork, contracts, and connections. The fight against corruption cannot rest solely on the Ombudsman or the courts—it is also the responsibility of every Filipino to stay vigilant, ask questions, and demand accountability.

The true danger is not the crocodile beneath a house in Tawi-Tawi, but the crocodile beneath the government’s tables. Unless confronted, the nation will continue to be submerged—not by water, but by injustice and corruption.