Most Filipinos still have hope, but doubts are growing about the justice of the flood scam

By Adrian H. Halili, A reporter

FEW Filipinos expressed confidence that officials involved in multibillion-dollar flood relief will be punished, according to a December survey by Pulse Asia Research, Inc., reflecting growing public skepticism about the government’s handling of one of the country’s biggest corruption scandals.

In a statement on Monday, Pulse Asia said 59% of Filipinos still hope that those accused in the flood control projects will be held accountable. While still high, this marked a significant drop from the 71% confidence level recorded in September 2025.

“Some older Filipinos have different views on the matter or doubt that the guilty government officials will be punished,” the inspector said.

Confidence varies greatly by region. Respondents in Mindanao were most optimistic, with 65% saying they expect accountability, followed by Luzon at 62% and Visayas at 57%.

In contrast, only 42% of respondents in the National Capital Region said they believed those involved would be punished.

The decline in confidence reflects frustration with the slow pace of investigations and prosecutions, said Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University.

“The slow pace of prosecution, the back-and-forth on the budget, and the reluctance to criticize politicians of any camp have further eroded credibility in this regard,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

The government’s response has failed to restore trust, even if it has eased public anger, said Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, a political science professor at De La Salle University in Manila.

“The gravity, speed, quality and effectiveness of the government’s response was enough to quell discontent but not enough to overcome the disappointment of generations,” he said via Messenger.

“Many think that every campaign will fail and choose, and many may end up with reason to be pessimistic,” he added.

The Marcos administration has faced growing public anger since law enforcement officials, officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways and private contractors were accused of embezzling billions of pesos from funds earmarked for flood control infrastructure starting in 2022.

The paradox involves overpriced, poorly constructed or “ghost” projects in flood-prone areas.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. previously vowed that all those involved would be jailed before the end of 2025, amid investigations by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Infrastructure Commission.

Authorities have filed charges against several officials and initiated administrative proceedings. Critics, however, say that these actions have not convinced the public that accountability will also extend to high political positions.

Mr. Borja said that restoring confidence will require structural changes instead of persecution by others.

“We need the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan to be efficient, effective bodies that are sufficiently developed to avoid backlogs, and strong enough to deal with all types of offenders,” he said.

In addition to expectations of punishment, the Pulse Asia survey also examined the broader trust in the justice system. About 44% of Filipinos said they believe the country’s courts can handle high-level corruption cases.

“The majority sentiment in the country is one of confidence in the judicial system’s ability to successfully prosecute high-level corruption cases,” Pulse Asia said.

Still, skepticism is widespread. About 24% of the respondents said they have no hope in the ability of the judiciary to prosecute those suspected of corruption, while 33% said they were undecided.

Opinions are similarly mixed on the effectiveness of legislative investigations. About 36% of Filipinos say that Senate questions on flood control projects sometimes reveal the truth but have limited impact.

About three in 10 respondents said such an investigation could uncover evidence and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, 21% said legal investigations rarely produce meaningful results.

“For a little more than a tenth of Filipino adults (12%), legislative investigations like the one conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee are mainly for theatrics or political theater,” Pulse Asia said.

Most respondents also expressed concern about the influence of powerful officials on judicial outcomes. About 51% of Filipinos said that high-ranking officials can use their power to influence court decisions and avoid convictions.

“The main factor that will affect the decisions of the courts regarding cases involving corrupt government officials is the use of the influence of such officials so that they are not convicted,” said the inspector.

This opinion was strongest in Luzon, where 57% shared this opinion, followed by Visayas with 51%, Metro Manila with 49% and Mindanao with 43%.

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 and over as of Dec. 12 to 15. It has a margin of error of ±2.8 percent.