The year 2026 opens with a cloud of unresolved corruption hanging over the Philippines, centered on massive losses from alleged ghost and substandard infrastructure projects. The scandal, which erupted publicly around mid-2025, involves staggering sums of public funds and raises grave questions about accountability within the highest levels of government.
The Staggering Scale of the Loss
According to revelations by Senator Panfilo Lacson, the nation has lost an astounding P180 billion to ghost projects alone. This colossal figure does not even include additional losses from substandard flood control systems, un-built or poorly constructed classrooms, and defective farm-to-market roads. The primary mechanism for these alleged crimes is traced to anomalous budget insertions in the national budget, principally orchestrated by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Retired Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez has suggested that the "top dog in Malacañang" may have prompted these insertions, further implicating the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. The scandal points to a network where contractors, officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and legislators are alleged to have profited immensely.
A Stalled and Suspect Investigation
Nearly five months after the scandal broke, little progress has been made in identifying and prosecuting the masterminds. The pursuit of justice suffered a critical blow with the suspicious death of a key witness. Despite numerous unexplained facets of her death, the Department of Justice (DOJ) hastily ruled out foul play, a move that has fueled public skepticism.
Critics argue that the investigation lacks impartiality, as it is being handled by agencies led by presidential appointees and potentially compromised by the same political dynasties under scrutiny. The President's initial response was to form an Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), but its independence was immediately questioned. Observers wondered why a new body was needed when the DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman already exist.
From ICI to People's Commission: More Delays?
The plot thickened when President Marcos Jr. shifted support to creating a People's Commission. Analysts fear this is merely a tactic to further delay proceedings. Forming a new commission will consume valuable time, and since it would still be a creation of the very Congress implicated in the budget insertions, its independence remains dubious.
The fear is that the entire process is designed to slow the already glacial pace of justice in the Philippines. The timeline for investigation, case validation, filing, and court battles could stretch indefinitely. There is growing concern that the strategy is to delay until the 2028 elections, allowing suspects to potentially run for office and seek exoneration from an electorate that may have moved on or remained unaware of the details.
Even the President's certification of the urgency of an anti-dynasty bill is viewed by some commentators as a possible distraction from the core corruption issue. As of January 2026, with no masterminds named and the investigative path appearing obstructed, it seems unlikely that this year will fulfill hopes for truth and consequential accountability for the lost billions.
