Written for The Diplomat
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. linked the recent flooding disaster to the pervasive corruption in the government during his fourth State of the Nation address.
Marcos may address the skepticism over his anti-corruption stance by ensuring a more inclusive and transparent budget process. But in the end, the credibility of the anti-corruption campaign cannot be separated from the impeachment case of Duterte and the decision of the president to either retain or let go of his discretionary funds.
Philippines Creates Independent Panel to Probe Infrastructure Corruption
Written for The Diplomat
The Philippine government has set up an independent panel to probe large-scale corruption related to the government’s infrastructure projects.
As legislators continue to conduct so-called anti-corruption hearings and the ICI has yet to start its work, the public is demanding more than just “performative” justice. As the nation marks the Martial Law anniversary on September 21, various protests scheduled for this day will highlight how plunder and abuse of power during the dictatorship continue to plague the nation.