Marcos Pledges to Jail Corruption Scandal Suspects by Year-End

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to imprison those involved in a major corruption scandal linked to government infrastructure projects — including flood control systems that failed during the country’s recent typhoon season — by the end of the year.

The scandal has sparked widespread outrage among Filipinos long weary of corruption and has been blamed for undermining public confidence and contributing to the economy’s slowest growth in four years during the September quarter.

“At least for them, Christmas won’t be pleasant,” Marcos said during a televised press conference, as the names of dozens of public works and construction officials facing corruption allegations appeared on a large screen behind him.

Earlier this year, the president created a special anti-graft commission to investigate billions of pesos worth of flood control projects that were found to be substandard, poorly documented, or entirely fictitious.

The controversy reignited in recent weeks after powerful typhoons caused severe flooding across the Philippines, prompting civil society groups and church leaders to plan new anti-corruption demonstrations this month.

Marcos said the government would accelerate public spending by year-end after a temporary slowdown caused by stricter project verification measures. “By the end of the year, we will make sure spending returns to the levels we originally planned,” he said.

Public expenditure rose 5.8% year-on-year in the third quarter, but infrastructure spending plunged 26.2%, the sharpest drop in nearly 14 years, dragging annual growth down to 4%.

Authorities have seized 6.3 billion pesos ($108 million) in assets linked to individuals and companies allegedly involved in the scandal, and Marcos said the government would move to confiscate those assets permanently.

The son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who himself faced corruption allegations, the president framed his crackdown as part of a broader campaign for transparency and accountability.

(1 USD = 58.1290 Philippine pesos)