Concern over corruption reaches record high amid protests, probes

For the first time, ending government corruption has emerged as the second most important issue Filipinos expect the government to address, OCTA Research Group said Monday.

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The survey's results, released on October 20, found that nearly one in three Filipinos ranked corruption among their top three national concerns. This is the highest share recorded since 2021 and a huge uptick from the 13% posted in July.

OCTA Research Group President Ranjit Rye said that while corruption has consistently ranked among the top 10 national concerns in their quarterly surveys over the past four years, this is the first time it has broken into the top five.

Since September 21, which saw one of the largest recent protests drawing thousands to the streets, smaller demonstrations have continued regularly to keep up pressure on the Marcos administration to hold officials accused of corruption accountable.

Rye said these anti-corruption protests, along with the ongoing flood control investigations, likely fueled the heightened public concern over the misuse of billions in taxpayers' money.