The business community lamented that what could have marked a strong start in holding leaders and government officials accountable is now at risk of losing momentum, with key reforms left unfinished and anti-corruption efforts slowing down.
In a joint statement, the Management Association of the Philippines, Justice Reform Initiative, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, and Institute of Corporate Directors said that while several individuals have been publicly identified in ongoing investigations, they have yet to be brought before Philippine courts, and many reforms needed to prevent similar abuses remain incomplete.
The groups stressed that the challenge is not merely to prosecute past wrongdoing but to address the conditions that allowed it to occur in the first place.
“Yet accountability remains incomplete,” the statement said, noting that several individuals publicly identified in ongoing investigations have yet to be brought before Philippine courts, while many reforms needed to prevent similar abuses remain unfinished.
The groups said that of the four reform initiatives they proposed in December 2025, meaningful progress has been made only on beneficial ownership disclosure through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Rules and the HARBOR registry.
These measures could make it more difficult for hidden interests and intermediary entities to benefit from government contracts. Their effectiveness, however, will depend on proper implementation and integration with procurement, tax, audit, and anti-money laundering systems.
By contrast, the statement said, full project life-cycle transparency, rapid-response mechanisms for procurement red flags, and public monitoring systems for major infrastructure projects remain largely unfinished despite their importance in preventing corruption before public funds are lost.
The groups warned that the lessons from recent investigations and past corruption scandals are difficult to ignore. From the ZTE controversy and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam to Pharmally and the ongoing questions surrounding flood control projects, they said a common pattern has emerged: weak transparency, fragmented oversight, delayed intervention, and inadequate visibility into who ultimately benefits from government spending.
“The country should not allow this moment of accountability to pass without meaningful institutional change. Public attention may eventually move elsewhere, but the underlying governance weaknesses will remain unless decisive reforms are implemented,” the groups said.
The organizations added that the filing of cases should mark the beginning—not the end—of the reform process. They reiterated their call for the government to expedite the investigation, prosecution, and resolution of major corruption cases arising from ongoing probes into flood control projects, including the apprehension and prosecution of individuals who remain beyond the reach of Philippine courts.
They also called for the full implementation of transparency, beneficial ownership, and digital monitoring provisions under the New Government Procurement Act.
In addition, the groups urged the establishment of public, real-time monitoring systems for major infrastructure projects, including disbursements, variation orders, cost overruns, delays, and contractor concentration. They also called for stronger coordination among the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Department of Budget and Management, Government Procurement Policy Board, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and implementing agencies to ensure that procurement red flags trigger immediate investigation and corrective action.
“The Filipino people deserve more than another major scandal followed by years of investigation and delayed accountability. They deserve institutions capable of preventing abuse, detecting irregularities early, and ensuring that violations are addressed swiftly and fairly, regardless of position or influence. This opportunity for lasting reform should not be wasted,” they said.
