Corruption and political survival
Corruption has gone a long way since the presidency of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. when former first lady Imelda Marcos was derisively called “Madam Ten Percent” for the alleged kickbacks and commissions she was accused of pocketing from government funds.
Corruption got worse during the Estrada and Macapagal Arroyo administrations, but from what we’re hearing and reading nowadays, it reached rock bottom during the six years of the Duterte presidency, and the two and a half years of the Marcos Jr. administration. During these eight and a half years, a cabal of public works officials and lawmakers pocketed as much as 50 percent of the funds allotted for numerous public work projects. But even that wasn’t enough, because an unraveling number of government crooks pocketed 100 percent of the funds for “ghost” projects, or totally nonexistent public works projects.
In fairness to President Marcos, he took the initiative of naming and shaming key public officials responsible for the unprecedented corruption. The President also had his Cabinet members and other ranking executive officials resign from their posts after accusations of corruption were hurled against them. It is also noteworthy that the President created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which is now investigating irregularities in flood control projects and other government infrastructure works. Two days ago, the President issued another praiseworthy declaration by directing Congress to prioritize the following four landmark bills that have great potential to solve the ever-worsening corruption in our country: the antidynasty bill, the Independent People’s Commission Act, the Party-List System Reform Act, and the Citizens’ Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act.
There are legitimate issues being raised against the actions and solutions of the President to address the horrendous cases of corruption. It’s also true that it may be premature to praise Mr. Marcos because there’s still the possibility that it’s all lip service, that there could be foot-dragging, and we may eventually see a lack of follow-through action. But let’s give credit where credit is due. First, it was the President himself who first took on the role of “whistleblower” regarding the unprecedented corruption that is happening in our midst. Second, the President himself exposed, or has allowed the investigation to expose corruption incidents even under his own administration and against his own people. Third, he has most recently urged Congress to prioritize the passage of the earlier-mentioned landmark bills that bequeath to the people the legal weapons that can be used to strike at the root causes of corruption.
In contrast, the previous Duterte administration never took the same kind of initiatives to stamp out corruption that rampantly took place during its years in power. In fact, the solutions of former President Rodrigo Duterte—when corruption incidents involving his officials and confidantes were being exposed—were to circle the wagon, zealously defend the exposed official, and flatly deny the existence of corruption. For Vice President Sara Duterte and the die-hard Duterte supporters, to claim that they have the moral high ground and can do better at fighting corruption is totally laughable.
Notwithstanding the initiatives of Mr. Marcos in exposing, investigating, and prosecuting at least some of those involved in corruption, his rating suffered a precipitous fall. Mr. Marcos’ performance rating dropped to 21 percent, which represents a 14-percent drop from his previous rating in August 2025, according to a November 2025 survey made by public opinion firm WR Numero. The poll also showed that 47 percent of Filipinos—almost half of those surveyed—said that they were dissatisfied with Marcos’ performance, representing a 15-percent increase from the August survey.
What the survey reveals is that, after Mr. Marcos opened the Pandora’s box of corruption, the people are no longer content with half-baked, selective, and slow-motion investigation and prosecution. The people are demanding a speedy and thorough cleansing of the pigsty, and the installation of systems that will allow public access to how people’s money is spent.
Another revelation of the corruption scandal in the current administration is that Mr. Marcos has a shallow bench of trustworthy allies and reliable friends. He is surrounded by shady characters, who are out to enrich themselves without regard for how they are destroying his legacy. The President must now realize that for him to preserve and uplift his legacy, he must reach out to pink and yellow forces, in whose ranks he can find people who can help him defend and espouse the nation’s interests.
There’s one crucial difference between the political fates of the father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and the son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The yellow forces caused Marcos Sr.’s political demise. The yellow and pink forces can ensure Marcos Jr.’s political survival.
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