Flood‑Control Corruption Sparks Mass Protests and a Political Showdown Between the Marcoses and Dutertes

The Philippines has been convulsed for months by mass protests after revelations of alleged multibillion‑peso graft in flood‑control projects. What began as public outrage over possible corruption has evolved into a bitter political struggle as rival factions within the country’s two most powerful families — the Marcoses and the Dutertes — seek to turn the controversy to their advantage.

Rallying anger and personal attacks

At a large anti‑corruption rally in Manila, Senator Imee Marcos publicly attacked her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., alleging long‑standing personal problems and accusing members of the president’s family of drug use. She addressed an audience reported to number in the hundreds of thousands.

“People have tried to divert the situation, the gravity of the situation, in so many ways,”

Jean Encinas‑Franco, professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, said. “It veers away from the real issue, which is the current investigations, which should be expedited.”

Those personal attacks echo past exchanges between President Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte and have amplified concerns that the original corruption allegations are being turned into political ammunition rather than addressed through rigorous investigation.

Political context and fallout

The Marcos and Duterte political machines were allied in 2022, with Sara Duterte‑Carpio serving as vice president on the same ticket as Marcos Jr. That alliance has since broken down amid competing presidential ambitions and escalating tensions. Tensions rose further after actions in March that resulted in Rodrigo Duterte being detained in The Hague, where he is facing charges at the International Criminal Court.

Political observers say both camps are using the flood‑control scandal to wound rivals and shore up support ahead of the 2028 presidential race, for which Marcos Jr. is ineligible under the constitution. With the Dutertes viewed by many as positioning for a comeback, the scandal offers them an opportunity to challenge Marcos’s standing.

Investigations, allegations and public trust

Accusations have spread beyond verbal attacks. Lawmakers have alleged that prominent figures — including the president’s cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez — benefited from the disputed projects, with one claim putting the amount at roughly 56 billion Philippine pesos (about $950 million). Marcos’s camp has characterized some of these allegations as propaganda.

Polling indicates a political cost: surveys from Social Weather Stations and other pollsters show that trust and satisfaction ratings for both President Marcos Jr. and Vice President Duterte‑Carpio have dipped since the scandal broke. Analysts warn that the administration’s perceived slow response could further erode public confidence.

“The President now faces a profound crisis of confidence, especially in the way these corruption investigations are being handled, which appear to lack both direction and resolve,”

Sara Duterte‑Carpio said in a video posted to her social media page, demanding clearer answers about how funds were approved and urging accountability.

How both camps are responding

The presidential spokesperson has urged cooperation with investigations and criticized public attacks that, in the administration’s view, distract from efforts to root out corruption. At the same time, an interagency panel appointed to probe anomalies in flood‑control projects has been directed to examine works in the Davao region — a Duterte stronghold — prompting denials from local officials who say their projects are legitimate.

President Marcos Jr. has pledged that senior officials implicated in the scandal will face arrest by Christmas, a move that analysts expect could target allies of both families as investigators follow leads. Political analysts note that, as president, Marcos Jr. controls resources that could shape the course of inquiries — a dynamic that increases the stakes of how the probes are run.

Outlook

What began as public anger over alleged abuses of public funds has become entangled with inter‑dynastic politics. Observers say that ensuring independent, transparent and speedy investigations will be crucial to restoring public trust and preventing the scandal from becoming purely a partisan weapon ahead of the next national election.