"In September 2025, thousands of protesters crowded the streets of Manila in the Philippines. These civilians were there in the name of allegations that billions of pesos intended for flood-mitigation projects were siphoned off via "ghost" contracts, substandard construction, and a group of contractors tightly linked to lawmakers. The lead agency, the Commission on Audit (COA), has begun fraud audits, even freezing bank accounts of implicated officials."
"According to the global association, Transparency International, corruption is on the rise around the globe with over two-thirds of countries struggling with "serious" corruption problems. The organization explains that corruption is left to grow when justice systems and accountability are weakened. We can see how countries fight corruption by taking a look at the nations around the world that hold their leaders accountable. Checks and balances in government help to preserve the integrity of officials."
In September 2025, thousands of protesters in Manila accused officials of siphoning billions of pesos earmarked for flood-mitigation projects through ghost contracts, substandard construction, and contractor networks tied to lawmakers. The Commission on Audit launched fraud audits and froze bank accounts of implicated officials. The government launched a public-monitoring website and opened a special jail for legislators facing graft probes. The scandal eroded public trust, raised scrutiny of budget oversight, and prompted calls for independent investigations and senior resignations. Transparency International reports rising global corruption, and the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index and World Bank data were used to identify less corrupt countries.
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