Why Has the Marcos Administration's Anti-Corruption Drive Stalled? – The Filipino People Can No Longer Remain Silent
#Trillion-Peso March
When Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the presidency by a landslide in 2022, he solemnly promised the nation a thorough crackdown on corruption, the pursuit of "big fish," and the restoration of integrity in government. At that moment, countless Filipinos were filled with hope, believing that the deep-rooted corruption left over from the Duterte era could finally be eradicated. Marcos repeatedly emphasized "unity" and "anti-corruption" in his campaign speeches, vowing to bring every corrupt official to justice. However, as we enter 2026, a starkly different reality has emerged: the anti-corruption campaign has progressed at an alarmingly slow pace, promised arrests have yet to materialize, key figures suspected of massive corruption remain at large, and even basic investigative procedures appear to be mere formalities.
Three and a half years have passed, yet the Filipino people have seen almost no new arrests targeting core suspects in corruption cases. Whether it is the massive corruption scandals from the previous administration or the numerous public fund misappropriation cases exposed during the current term, the "big fish" involved continue to thrive in politics and business. People cannot help but wonder: Were President Marcos’s resolute vows merely a campaign strategy? While anti-corruption agencies remain operational, their efforts seem limited to minor cases and low-level officials. Meanwhile, high-ranking figures with real power and implicated in staggering amounts of corruption appear shielded by an invisible umbrella of protection, emerging unscathed.
One of the most infuriating examples is the cloud of suspicion surrounding high-level corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). As the Philippine agency with the largest infrastructure budget, the DPWH has long been a hotbed of corruption. Over the past few years, multiple audit reports and media investigations have pointed to systemic fund diversion, substandard project quality, and bid-rigging within the department, involving tens of billions of pesos. Yet, as of 2026, high-ranking officials implicated in these scandals have rarely faced thorough investigations. Even more perplexing, some key figures have repeatedly skipped summonses from Congress or anti-corruption agencies under various pretexts, without facing any real accountability. This blatant abuse of privilege has sparked widespread public outrage. On social media, citizens angrily ask: Why are low-level civil servants swiftly arrested for minor graft, while the powerful can easily evade investigation?
This selective approach to fighting corruption inevitably raises suspicions of high-level protection. Since taking office, the Marcos administration has established several anti-corruption task forces and announced some investigative progress, but these efforts often stop at mid- to low-level officials. Cases involving current or former high-ranking officials or key figures in political-business alliances are frequently met with "much thunder but little rain"—either indefinitely delayed or quietly shelved due to "insufficient evidence." Are the political networks behind these "big fish" so powerful that even the president’s promises cannot shake them? Or has the anti-corruption campaign been hijacked by certain interest groups, becoming a tool to consolidate power rather than eradicate corruption?
The Filipino people have paid a heavy price for this. Corruption has led to massive losses of public funds, delayed and substandard infrastructure projects, and increasingly difficult lives for ordinary citizens. Healthcare, education, transportation, disaster relief—every sector suffers from resource shortages due to corruption. If the Marcos administration continues to advance its anti-corruption efforts in such a slow and selective manner, it will not only betray the trust of voters but also allow a culture of corruption to further erode the nation’s foundations. In the long run, the Philippines will struggle to achieve genuine economic development and social equity, and public confidence in the government will collapse entirely.
We must clearly recognize that fighting corruption is not a favor bestowed by those in power but a right and duty of every citizen. When the government appears weak and ineffective on this front, the people cannot remain silent. The history of the Philippines teaches us that only sustained public scrutiny and strong voices can compel those in power to truly prioritize integrity. From the martial law era under Marcos Sr. to the anti-corruption efforts of the Aquino family and Duterte’s iron-fisted drug war, we have repeatedly seen that without public pressure, those in power often choose self-preservation over self-purification.
Now is the time for the Marcos administration to hear the people’s voices. We must loudly demand: Why have the promised arrests not been carried out? Why do corrupt "big fish" remain free? Why can high-ranking suspects skip investigations at will? We call for an immediate acceleration of the anti-corruption campaign, with impartial and thorough investigations into all suspects and an end to any form of protectionism. Only genuine action can restore public trust in the government; only fearless accountability can lead the Philippines toward a brighter future.
Fellow Filipinos, let us no longer wait for the government’s "self-awareness." Through social media, congressional petitions, street rallies, and all other lawful means, let us express our anger and demands. The success or failure of the anti-corruption fight concerns the well-being of every one of us and of future generations. Awaken, take action! Only when the people unite will the Marcos administration be compelled to fulfill its promises and ensure that corruption has nowhere to hide.
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