Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Practically every Filipino adult believes that corruption in government is widespread, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Friday, amid a scandal on bogus flood control projects. </p><p>Out of 1,200 adults polled in December 2025, 94 percent described corruption in government as widespread. </p><p>Five percent expressed indecision on the matter, while only one percent believed that corruption in government was not widespread. </p><p>The view that government corruption is widespread was “shared by most adults across geographic areas and socioeconomic classes (93% to 96% and 88% to 96%, respectively),” Pulse Asia noted. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/26/palace-more-people-linked-to-flood-control-scandal-to-be-thrown-behind-bars-in-the-new-year-1513">Palace: More people linked to flood control scandal to be ‘thrown behind bars in the New Year</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17679241747331767924173002.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from Pulse Asia</em></span></span></span></div><p>The same survey found that 74 percent believed corruption in the government increased in the last 12 months. Seven percent said it decreased, while 19 percent said it had stayed the same. </p><p>Most Filipino adults consider accepting or giving bribes (74 percent), misusing public funds or company resources (66 percent), and offering or receiving kickbacks for contract or services (64 percent) as corrupt whether these take place in the public or private setting, Pulse Asia added.</p><p>Public opinion on this matter was essentially constant between September 2025 and December 2025. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/8/senate-flood-control-hearing-may-resume-in-next-few-weeks-1138">&#x27;Walang closure&#x27;: Senate flood control hearing may resume in &#x27;next few weeks&#x27;</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17679242101921767924209757.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from Pulse Asia</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘NORMALIZATION’ OF CORRUPTION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The survey also found 41 percent of Filipinos see corruption as a “normal” part of politics in the country, compared with 43 percent who disagreed and 17 percent who were undecided on the matter.</p><p>Tricia Zafra, a psychologist and social science lecturer, said corruption becomes normalized when Filipinos see that corrupt practices are often rewarded instead of punished.</p><p>“Supposedly, dapat merong consequences ‘yung ganung [corrupt] behavior. So ang issue ay nasa implementasyon talaga. Yung behavior ba ay napaparusahan? Yung consequence ba na intended for doing this behavior ay nai-implement? Sadly, hindi, so nakakadagdag yun kung bakit nano-normalize yung corrupt practices,” Zafra said.</p><p>She added that normalized corruption breeds apathy and complicity. </p><p>“Isang consequence ‘yun kapag nakikitang normalized ang isang behavior tulad ng corruption sa paligid natin, tinotolorate. Hindi kumikibo, kunwari hindi nakikita. Pero ang mas malala doon, yung tao naiimpluwensyahan siya na gawin din yung ganung bagay.”</p><p>May Pepito, a carenderia owner, said she worries about her son’s future if corruption continues to persist. </p><p>“Ang korapsyon talaga ngayon parang normal na lang sa mga tao kasi wala namang solusyon eh… ‘yung mga anak natin, papaano na ito pag lumaki… naaawa lang ako sa anak ko kasi syempre magkakaroon ng anak ‘yan, hindi pa siya nanganganak, may utang na. Sana maayos naman ng ating presidente yan bago siya bumaba,” Pepito said. </p><p>She added that despite corruption being widespread, she would not engage in it, no matter how difficult life gets.</p><p>“Hindi na bale maghirap kami basta sariling sikap, pawis, pagod. Di na bale maging mayaman basta at least yung karangalan ng tao ay madadala mo yan sa kamatayan,” Pepito said.</p><p>Romy Jisto, 60, lost his home to a fire and has been living in a tent for a year. He acknowledged that corruption is a recurring problem, but said he remains hopeful that change is possible.</p><p>“Normal lang yan na meron nung bata pa ako hanggang ngayon, wala namang nahuhuli sa ganong bagay… sa lahat ng namumulitiko sana magbago na ang lahat para umayos ang ating ekonomiya… para may matirahan na kami na hindi na kami mababasa.”</p><p>The Pulse Asia survey had a ± 2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/6/no-big-fish-arrested-palace-says-marcos-jr-s-term-not-yet-over-1600">No &#x27;big fish&#x27; arrested? Palace says Marcos Jr.&#x27;s term not yet over</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/12/10/philippine-business-groups-press-lawmakers-for-stronger-anti-corruption-body-1431">Philippine business groups press lawmakers for stronger anti-corruption body</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/3/dpwh-budget-for-2026-has-no-funding-for-new-flood-control-projects-1315">DPWH: Budget for 2026 has no funding for new flood-control projects</a></div>

<p>Practically every Filipino adult believes that corruption in government is widespread, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Friday, amid a scandal on bogus flood control projects. </p>

Practically every Filipino adult believes that corruption in government is widespread, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Friday, amid a scandal on bogus flood control projects.

Nearly all Filipinos say corruption in gov’t is widespread – Pulse Asia

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Nearly all Filipinos say corruption in gov’t is widespread – Pulse Asia

Jamaine Punzalan,

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 09, 2026 10:13 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 09, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

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Pulse Asia

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