2025: The year Filipinos crashed out

BLUEBOARD VINCENT CARLO L. LEGARA

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For many Filipinos, 2025 has proven to be one of the most memorable and consequential years in modern Philippine history — mostly in a bad way. The arrest and incarceration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte in March was a huge step forward toward accountability and transitional justice in the country. However, much of this year was still characterized by uncertainty and instability.

The 2025 national budget was flagged for irregularities and blank items, leading to questions regarding “pork barrel” allocations and a demand for answers surrounding cuts to critical sectors such as education and healthcare.

Meanwhile, another chapter in the Marcos-Duterte feud was written through the impeachment of Vice-President Sara Duterte in February. However, the expected trial suffered a series of legal and political setbacks ultimately leading to the barring of impeachment proceedings until February of next year. The 2025 midterm elections, viewed by many as a battleground between the two political camps, reaffirmed the dominance of political dynasties and patronage polities in the Philippine political system despite reformist victories and notable upsets (for example, Cynthia Villar and Gwendolyn Garcia).

The rather lackluster midterm results for the sitting administration led to the reshuffling of the entire Marcos Cabinet given it was a referendum for the incumbent government. Although President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. retained much of his Cabinet, particularly the economic team, several officials were dismissed due to “underperformance,” while some were reassigned to new posts (for example, Vince Dizon and Raphael Lotilla). Not long after Marcos delivered his State of the Nation Address, he held a press conference ordering an investigation into the country’s flood control projects.