“`html
By Norman P. Aquino, Special Reports Editor and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter
PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s initiative aimed at combating corruption in flood control endeavors could enhance his reliability with constituents and financiers but poses a risk to political partnerships, analysts remarked.
The President, whose family is still associated in the public consciousness with the extensive corruption during his late father’s tenure, expressed profound concern over reports of irregularities in flood mitigation efforts. Appearing emotional in a recent podcast, Mr. Marcos conveyed he had “restless nights” regarding the situation.
The initiative began with alerts during his July State of the Nation Address, where he identified firms that supposedly profited from dike and river wall contracts. Since then, the President has mandated lifestyle audits on officials, executed unexpected inspections of projects, and established an independent entity to pursue legal actions.
Mr. Marcos further stated there is no necessity to include flood control initiatives in the 2026 national budget, suggesting that the P350 billion allocated for these efforts this year could be extended into the next.
Financial markets have remained stable thus far, although Mr. Marcos’ warning of not endorsing a General Appropriations bill that deviates substantially from the national spending plan may jeopardize the economy and hinder the Philippines’ shift to a higher income bracket.
“President Marcos’ anti-corruption initiative will only redefine his reputation and legacy if he showcases authentic determination,” Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science educator at the University of Makati, remarked in a Facebook Messenger conversation.
“It hinges on how far he is prepared to see this through. If he guarantees that cases are launched and pursued against those culpable, irrespective of political affiliations, this could signify a pivotal moment in how his term is recalled,” he added.
Corruption has persistently plagued the Philippines, influencing its political and economic landscape for many years. It permeates national and local administrations, with scandals frequently revolving around infrastructure endeavors, public procurement, and patronage-driven governance.
The late president allegedly looted as much as $10 billion (P503 billion) from the Filipino populace, as per government assessments, earning him a Guinness World Record for the “largest theft of a government.”
A majority of Filipino executives remain optimistic about their industry forecasts for the upcoming year, but continue to express dissatisfaction with the government’s approach to corruption, according to a survey by PwC Philippines and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) released this week. Merely 9% of participants indicated that the administration was performing well in combating graft.
Mr. Marcos’ trust rating increased by 10 points to 48% in June compared to the previous month, as per the Social Weather Stations.
“If heads roll, charges are filed and the entire initiative culminates in politicians and bureaucrats alike being ousted from government, then it will undoubtedly be the remarkable redemption narrative for his family and legacy,” Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science lecturer at De La Salle University in Manila, conveyed to BusinessWorld via Facebook Messenger. “If not, then it will likely be dismissed as trivial partisan maneuvering interspersed with controversy and posturing.”
The anti-corruption campaign has reached Congress, where legislators have exchanged accusations regarding kickbacks from public works projects. During a House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday, a former district engineer accused Senators Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada and Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva of gaining from flood control contracts. Both refuted the allegations.
On Monday, a contractor testified before the Senate claiming that Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez — the President’s cousin — and other associates were implicated in dubious projects. Mr. Romualdez and other legislators dismissed the accusations.
The controversy has led to the resignation of the Public Works secretary and a leadership transition in the Senate, where Vicente C. Sotto III succeeded Francis G. Escudero as president of the chamber. Mr. Escudero acknowledged receiving campaign contributions from a contractor but denied influencing contract distributions.
Political analysts indicated that Mr. Marcos’ anti-corruption initiative may cause division within his coalition if more individuals from his political partnership become entangled in the fraudulent flood control ventures.
“It is indeed a risk, and if he maneuvers through it (allowing some to be spared), then the remainder of his legislative agenda might remain unaffected,” Mr. Borja commented. “If not, then he still retains the option of adopting a populist stance and positioning himself against everyone associated with this flood control scandal.”
‘NOT JUST A SLOGAN’
Arjan P. Aguirre, who instructs political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, remarked that the President’s anti-corruption initiative “unfortunately appears to be executed carelessly or inconsistently.”
“The Marcos administration seems to have specifically targeted the flood control issue perhaps as a tactic to retaliate against those lawmakers who may be betraying them or failing to deliver regarding the impeachment trial in the Senate,” he commented through Messenger chat.
“As we are witnessing now, the situation appears to have backfired on them since even their allies in the House are now being implicated by those flood control contractors,” he added.
Mr. Marcos finds himself in the latter half of his solitary, six-year term and is under pressure to select his successor. His chosen candidate’s most significant opponent will be Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who narrowly avoided an impeachment trial after the Supreme Court dismissed the case on a technicality.
With prior corruption accusations still looming over the Marcos name, Filipinos likely question the authenticity of his initiative.
“His supporters have confidence in him, but the broader public does not at this moment, and they are likely to focus their support on those at the forefront — the senators and representatives conducting the investigations,” Mr. Borja stated.
Mr. Marcos is the last individual to gain from all this, particularly concerning political capital and backing, he observed.
“It necessitates tangible outcomes, encompassing the reform of the bureaucracy underlying public infrastructure to politicians facing imprisonment before his legacy and his family’s image might benefit from the anti-corruption campaign,” he remarked. “Moreover, his sister Imee Marcos being on a differing side while Speaker Romualdez is mired in the controversy is not aiding his cause.”
Mr. Tapia pointed out that by targeting figures associated with irregular flood control agreements, the President could instigate fragmentation within his own coalition. “Much of his alliance relies on fragile power-sharing, and pushing too aggressively against entrenched interests could undermine his hold in the latter half of his term.”
The President should not restrict his anti-graft efforts to flood control initiatives to avoid being accused of having a “superficial approach” to corruption, Mr. Aguirre suggested.
“Public confidence remains his greatest obstacle,” Mr. Tapia stated. “With past plunder allegations still associated with the Marcos name, many Filipinos will perceive this initiative with skepticism.”
“To bridge the divide, he must demonstrate that this is not merely a slogan or selective justice, but an ongoing effort applied uniformly across the board. Only then can he transform an anti-graft campaign into an authentic legacy,” he concluded.
Source link
“`