Overview
- In his State of the Nation speech on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to press corruption cases even against his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying his duty is to the Filipino people.
- Separate government and congressional probes into 2024–25 flood‑control projects have produced indictments, detentions and arrests, and investigators say they are close to filing multiple cases tied to senior politicians and contractors.
- Marcos asked Congress for specific relief measures, including broader income tax exemptions for workers, removal of the minimum corporate income tax for small firms, and steps to cut power and rice costs.
- Markets and public trust have weakened since the scandal surfaced, with analysts warning the government must show how promised handouts will be funded before investor confidence recovers.
- Security was tightened for the address with more than 23,000 police deployed and two small explosive incidents reported near justice institutions, while the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice‑President Sara Duterte adds to political strain ahead of 2028.