Anti-graft push tests political alliances

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.'s campaign targeting corruption in flood control projects could boost his credibility with voters and investors but risks straining political alliances, analysts said.

- By Norman P. Aquino Special Reports Editor and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio Reporter

The President, whose family remains linked in the public mind to the massive corruption of his late father's administration, said he was deeply troubled by reports of anomalies in flood mitigation projects. Appearing emotional in a podcast at the weekend, Mr. Marcos said he had “sleepless nights” over the issue.

The drive began with warnings in his July State of the Nation Address, when he singled out companies that allegedly benefited from dike and river wall contracts. Since then, the President has ordered lifestyle checks on officials, conducted surprise inspections of projects and created an independent body to pursue cases.

Mr. Marcos also said there's no need to include flood control projects in the 2026 national budget, adding that the P350-billion funding for these projects this year could be rolled over to next year.

Financial markets have been unaffected so far, though Mr. Marcos' threat of not signing a General Appropriations bill that significantly departs from the national expenditure program risks hurting the economy and derailing the Philippine transition to a higher income tier.

"President Marcos' anti-graft campaign will only reshape his image and legacy if he demonstrates genuine resolve," Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at the University of Makati, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

"It depends on how far he is willing to see this through. If he ensures that cases are filed and pursued against those responsible, regardless of political connections, this could mark a turning point in how his presidency is remembered," he added.

Corruption has long dogged the Philippines, shaping its political and economic landscape for decades. It cuts across national and local governments, with scandals often involving infrastructure projects, public procurement, and patronage-driven politics.