Overview

• Weeks of intense monsoon rains have submerged towns and disrupted access to schools, work and hospitals, with health concerns such as leptospirosis reported.
• Marcos acknowledged that many flood-control works were substandard or never built and cited reports that roughly 70% of funds were lost to corruption.
• A formal inquiry is underway to review high-value contracts, with Senate investigations progressing and the Discaya contracting firm reported as blacklisted.
• Pacifico Discaya has admitted to paying kickbacks to lawmakers, while politicians named in reports have denied wrongdoing.
• Public fury has zeroed in on politically connected “nepo babies” flaunting luxury online, fueling street actions and a large anti-corruption protest set for September 21.