MANILA — November 13, 2025 — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed that dozens of high-ranking politicians and business executives implicated in a massive corruption scandal will be behind bars before Christmas, signaling one of the country’s most aggressive anti-graft crackdowns in decades.
The president said 37 senators, members of Congress, and prominent business figures face criminal complaints for graft, corruption, and plunder — a non-bailable offense — tied to ₱545 billion ($9 billion) in defective or non-existent flood-control projects across the country.
Marcos Announces Swift Legal Action Against Key Figures
Speaking in a televised briefing, Marcos confirmed that the independent fact-finding commission he created has filed multiple cases before anti-corruption courts. He added that the investigation continues to uncover new irregularities involving both public and private sector participants.
“We don’t file cases for optics,” Marcos said. “We file cases to put people in jail.”
Authorities also charged 86 construction executives and nine government officials for allegedly evading nearly ₱9 billion ($152 million) in taxes.
Government Freezes ₱6.3 B In Assets Linked To Scandal
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has frozen 1,671 bank accounts, 144 real-estate properties, and 244 vehicles belonging to the accused, valued at more than ₱6.3 billion ($107 million). The Bureau of Customs has already seized 13 luxury cars, with seven vehicles slated for auction as part of asset-recovery efforts.
Marcos said the government will recover all stolen public funds and ensure equal accountability regardless of political affiliation. “Nobody’s immune. Nobody will be exempted in these investigations,” he declared.
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Typhoon Disasters Heighten Public Outrage
The scandal erupted amid national grief over the devastation from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 232 people and left 125 missing, followed by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which claimed another 27 lives. Faulty flood-control projects funded under previous allocations worsened the damage, fueling widespread protests and calls for reform.
Public anger has escalated nationwide, with street demonstrations scheduled through the end of November, including a large-scale rally on Bonifacio Day, November 30.
High-Profile Names Among Those Implicated
Among those under investigation are former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin and key ally of the president, and several supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, now an opposition critic. Both camps have denied wrongdoing.
Vice President Sara Duterte accused Marcos of hypocrisy, saying he should also be accountable for signing the 2025 budget that included questionable appropriations. “He has a big shortcoming in his work for the nation, so he can put himself in jail,” Duterte said.
New Jail Facilities Built For Corruption Suspects
Authorities have prepared a new detention facility in Quezon City capable of housing up to 800 detainees, including public officials awaiting trial. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the new jail will not provide “VIP treatment” to any detainee, regardless of rank or wealth.
Foreign observers have welcomed the crackdown. Denmark’s ambassador to the Philippines, Franz-Michael Mellbin, called it “an important and healthy signal to see people actually starting to end up in jail for theft of public property.”
Nationwide Probe Targets Thousands Of Projects
The investigation spans 9,855 flood-control projects implemented since mid-2022. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told lawmakers that up to ₱118.5 billion ($2 billion) may have been lost to corruption since 2023 alone.
Officials said several projects were “ghost constructions”, while others used substandard materials that collapsed during recent typhoons.
Crackdown Marks Turning Point In Anti-Corruption Drive
Political analysts view the scandal as a test of the administration’s credibility. “This is a defining moment for Marcos,” said Dr. Julio Teves, governance expert at Ateneo de Manila University. “If prosecutions succeed, it will reshape public trust in government institutions.”
The president reiterated that more names will emerge as investigators deepen their probe. “Before Christmas,” he said, “many of those responsible will already be behind bars.”
