go through Norman P. Aquino, Special Report Editor and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, reporter
Philippine Presidential FeeDinand R. Marcos, Jr. But risking the political EllieAnalysts said.
The president’s family, who remained in the public’s minds, is linked to the massive corruption in the late father’s administration, said he was deeply troubled by reports of unusual flood reduction projects. Mr. Marcos showed excitement on the weekend’s podcast, saying he had a “sleepless night” about the issue.
The driving force began with warnings in his July national speech, when he picked out companies that allegedly benefited from embankment and river wall contracts. Since then, the president has ordered lifestyle inspections of officials, surprise inspections of projects, and created an independent agency to file cases.
Mr Marcos also said there is no need to include flood control projects in the 2026 national budget, adding that P35 billion for these projects could be put into practice this year.
Financial markets have not been affected so far, despite Mr. Marcos’ threat to not signing a general appropriation bill that significantly departs from the state spending plan that could hurt the economy and transition the Philippines to a higher income tier.
“President Marcos’ anti-grafting movement will only reshape his image and legacy if he shows real determination,” said Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at Makati University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
He added: “It depends on his willingness to see that. If he ensures that the person in charge is brought and a case is filed, regardless of the political connection, it could mark a turning point in how his presidency is remembered.”
Corruption has long plagued the Philippines, shaping its political and economic landscape for decades. It cuts down on national and local governments, and scandals often involve infrastructure projects, public procurement and sponsorship-driven politics.
According to government estimates, the late president stole as much as $10 billion ($503 billion) from the Filipino people, which gave him the Guinness World Record for the “government’s greatest robbery.”
According to a survey released this week by PWC Philippines and the Philippine Management Association (MAP), most Philippine executives are confident about their industry prospects in the next 12 months, but are not satisfied with the government’s handling. Only 9% of respondents said the government was doing well in fighting grafting.
According to the Social Weather Station, Mr Marcos’ trust rating rose to 48% in June from a month ago.
“If the person in charge rolls, the charges are raised, the entire campaign ends up being removed from the government as politicians and bureaucrats, and then Anthony Lawrence A, associate professor of political science at De La Salle University in Manila. BusinessWorld In Facebook Messenger chat. “If notVersy and Arderance. ”
The anti-corruption campaign has arrived in Congress, with lawmakers prosecuting kickbacks for public works projects. During a House hearing Tuesday, a former district engineer accused Senator Jose jinggoy P. Estrada and Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva benefited from flood control contracts. Both sides denied the charges.
A contractor testified in the Senate on Monday that the president’s cousin Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and other allies were involved in the suspicious project. Mr. Romualdez and others Legislators rejected these claims.
The controversy has led to the resignation of the Secretary of Public Works and a change in the Senate, with Vicente C. Sotto III replacing Francis G. Escudero as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Escudero admitted to receiving campaign donations from the contractor but denied impacting the contract award.
Political analysts say that if more political coalitions are tangled in false flood control projects, Mr. Marcos’ anti-corruption drive risks will break down within his coalition.
“It’s certainly a risk, and if he browses it (allows some people to survive), then the rest of his legislative agenda may remain the same,” Borga said. “If not, then he still has the option to turn to populists and strike himself against everyone involved in this flood control controversy.”
Not just a slogan’
Arjan P. Aguirre of Teaching Political science at the University of Manila Athenho de Manila says the president’s anti-corruption driver is “unfortunately done casually or carelessly.”
“The Marcos administration appears to have addressed flood control issues, which could be a way to return to lawmakers who might be betray their Senate handling of improper trials,” he said via Messenger.
He added: “As we witness now, this problem seems to have backfired.
Mr. Marcos is single and in the second half of his six-year term, it is difficult to choose a successor. His biggest anointed rival will be Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who escaped the improvisation trial after the Supreme Court blocked the case in a technical case.
With past corruption charges still on Marcos’ name, Filipinos may not believe the sincerity of his campaign.
“His supporters trust him, but no one else will do that, and they may focus their support on those locals – senators and representatives who are under investigation,” Borja said.
He noted that Mr. Marcos was the last person to benefit from all of this, at least in terms of political capital and support.
“From reforming the bureaucracy behind public infrastructure to politicians, his legacy and family image will benefit from the anti-corruption campaign, which requires concrete results,” he said. “In addition, his sister Imee Marcos is on the other side of the fence and the speaker Romualdez is dragged into the competition and has not helped his career.”
Mr Tapia noted that by targeting figures related to abnormal flood control transactions, the president could trigger a split within his own coalition. “Most of his alliances depend on refined power sharing, and efforts toward deeply rooted interests that may undermine his control The second half of his term. ”
Aguile said the president should not limit his anti-planting power to flood control projects so that he is not accused of having a “half-mood tendency” towards corruption.
“Public trust remains his biggest obstacle,” Tapia said. “As past allegations of plunder remain relevant to Marcos’ name, many Filipinos will doubt the movement.”
He added: “To bridge the gap, he must prove that it is not only a slogan or selective justice, but also a continuous effort in all respects. Only in this way can he turn the anti-corruption drive into a real legacy.”
