Marcos Government Cracks Down on Corruption, Arrests Seven in Flood Control Scandal

Breaking News: Philippine President Announces Arrests in Corruption Scandal Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced the arrest of seven individuals in connection with a sprawling corruption scandal related to flood control projects in the Southeast Asian country. The suspects are among more than a dozen people indicted by the Sandiganbayan, a special anticorruption court, in the first of what are expected to be numerous probes into so-called ghost infrastructure projects. The arrests come after President Marcos Jr. launched an investigation into the alleged corruption, which has been linked to several high-profile government officials. According to sources, the suspects were taken into custody on November 23, 2025, in a coordinated operation involving the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation. The immediate impact of the arrests is being felt in the Philippines, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in government. The opposition has welcomed the move, saying it is a step in the right direction towards rooting out corruption. However, some critics have expressed concerns that the investigation may be too narrow in scope, and that more individuals may be implicated in the scandal. The corruption scandal has been linked to several flood control projects, including the construction of a major waterway in Metro Cebu. The projects were allegedly awarded to companies with ties to government officials, resulting in millions of pesos in losses to the Philippine government. The background to the scandal dates back to 2020, when the Philippine government launched a series of infrastructure projects aimed at mitigating the impact of flooding in major cities. However, an investigation by the Commission on Audit found that several of these projects had been marred by irregularities, including overpriced contracts and kickbacks to government officials. As the investigation continues, President Marcos Jr. has vowed to take a tough stance against corruption, saying that those found guilty will face the full force of the law. The Philippine government has also announced plans to implement reforms aimed at preventing similar scandals in the future.