Corruption, Protest, and Accountability in the Philippines: The Ghost Projects

In 2025, the Philippines experienced one of its largest corruption scandals in decades, disguised as flood control. Billions of pesos intended for storm mitigation infrastructure were diverted into “ghost projects,” overpriced contracts, and inadequate construction. Independent journalists and state auditors conducted investigations that revealed flood control structures that were either nonexistent or had collapsed within months of being completed. It is reported that these projects were spread across multiple provinces, often linked to contractors with political ties.

Public Anger Rising: Outrage and Online Satire

Outrage from online discourse to the streets quickly swept the nation when these findings were made public in 2025. By September, hundreds of Filipinos were protesting for criminal prosecutions and changes to public contracting in Davao, Cebu, and Manila. “Hold the Corrupt Accountable,” “Return the People’s Money,” and “We’re Watching” were the slogans that captured a nationwide demand for justice. 

Sarcasm emerged as a new kind of rage on social media. TikTok and X were overwhelmed with memes ridiculing the incident, making jokes about the children of the construction workers and their lavish lifestyle. It conveyed the ridiculousness of “ghost projects” and the extent to which corruption exists in everyday life. Online users began recording which politicians' families appeared to profit the most from the alleged infrastructure boom, turning what started off as a joke into political commentary.

Government and Judicial Response: Accountability on Trial 

As the outrage grew, attention shifted to the government institutions charged with preventing corruption in the first place. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which oversees flood control funds, blamed local contractors for the irregularities, even though many of those corporations had long-standing political ties to lawmakers who authorized the budgets. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised an internal audit but refrained from demanding criminal charges, repeating a familiar pattern in Philippine politics: public denunciation without institutional consequences. 

Weak institutions left a gap in accountability, which independent journalists have filled. By following the money trail through shell corporations and duplicate project listings throughout the country, media outlets like Rappler and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) revealed how corruption functions through administration loopholes. Their reporting has pressured agencies to respond where formal investigations failed. 

Government officials who authorize these fraudulent contracts may be imprisoned and removed from office under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019). However, the application of these laws is inconsistent. Critics contend that once high-ranking officials are involved, prosecutions stall, despite the Office of the Ombudsman — an office tasked with looking into corruption — announcing preliminary inquiries. The designated anti-graft court and the Sandiganbayan have a record of slow-moving cases and acquittals that have undermined public trust. 

When Does Corruption Become a Humanitarian Crime? 

The flood control scandal is about more than just bribery and bogus infrastructure. It's a humanitarian crisis. Every peso stolen from flood mitigation initiatives multiplies the risk for millions of Filipinos who live in flood-prone areas. This year alone, strong monsoon rains displaced 77,000 people. Misused funds immediately resulted in ruined homes, lost lives, and a growing distrust between individuals and the government.

International observers have begun to interpret the scandal as part of a larger governance and climate justice issue, even though it has been primarily recognized as a domestic matter. For example, the Reality of Aid: Asia Pacific Networks denounced the misuse of disaster funds as a form of humanitarian neglect. Additionally, while there was a coalition of corporate and civic organizations, a recently established Independent Commission for Infrastructure was also established. Now, the world is observing how the Philippines is striking a balance between reconstruction and actual accountability, although no international body has officially intervened. 

The Building of Accountability in the Philippines

In this case of the “ghost projects,” it demonstrates that when institutions lack independence, legislation can be easily undermined. Arrests alone will not be enough to restore trust; there must be a fundamental change. The Philippines requires citizen oversight bodies, transparent online tracking of public contracts, and complete protection for whistleblowers and investigative journalists. 

Democracy will continue to be threatened under the ghost projects until the government amends the way funds for infrastructure are handled and corruption cases are processed. Accountability is the beginning of real reconstruction in this country. 

In this case, upholding the rule of law entails not just punishing the wrongdoers but also reinforcing that everyone is subject to the law, especially those in positions of authority. The foundations of Philippine democracy will continue to deteriorate in the absence of such dedication, and corruption will continue to be institutionalized.

Image Source: ABC