Hounded by flood control scam, PH drops further in world corruption rankings

National

THE Philippines dropped further in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), marking its third consecutive year of decline.

According to Transparency International’s annual report, the country ranked 120th out of 182 countries, down six places from last year. It scored 32 out of 100, lower than its 2024 score of 33 and 2023 score of 34. The Philippines also remained below both the global average of 42 and the Asia-Pacific average of 45.

Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked behind Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and Thailand. Only Cambodia and Myanmar placed lower in the region.

Transparency International noted that public frustration over weak governance and limited accountability fueled protests and outrage linked to the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal uncovered last year.

The report emphasized that poor law enforcement, unaccountable leadership, and opaque political financing continue to weaken anti-corruption efforts worldwide, including in the Philippines.

In a report by Inquirer.net, Malacañang acknowledged the country’s ranking, saying investigations into corruption cases are ongoing.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains committed to holding those responsible accountable.

The government is currently reviewing the findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which examined flood control projects over the past decade and recommended filing criminal charges against 65 individuals, including lawmakers, government officials, and private contractors.

ICI investigations also formed the basis for the Anti-Money Laundering Council to secure court orders freezing more than 6,700 bank accounts and assets amounting to ₱24.7 billion. Malacañang said these actions form part of the administration’s efforts to curb corruption and restore public trust.

The CPI is widely regarded as the most established global measure of corruption. It assesses perceived levels of public sector corruption, including bribery, misuse of public funds, abuse of power, lack of transparency, barriers to financial disclosure by public officials, and protections for whistleblowers. (Adriane Josef E. Cabase, USJ-R Comm Intern)