Metro Manila, Philippines – Optimism in punishing people in anomalous flood control projects declined in December, according to a poll released on Monday, Jan. 12.
In December, Pulse Asia said around 59 percent of Filipinos believe that guilty officials in the corruption scandal will be punished, lower than the 71 percent in September.
Big declines in optimistic scores were seen in Metro Manila and Class E respondents, the survey said.
The percentage of those who believed that flood control mess actors will go unpunished was 13 percent in December, up from 8 percent in September.
Uncertainty among respondents grew to 28 percent from 21 percent.
Meanwhile, distrust with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in relation to addressing the issue also went up by three points to 48 percent in December from September.
Distrust scores of investigating bodies such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) also rose.
Meanwhile, three in 10 Filipinos said the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation on the flood control anomalies “sometimes reveals the truth but is limited in impact.”
Pulse Asia said the sentiment had 36 percent in December, expanding by eight points from 28 percent in September.
Confidence in the success of the justice system in prosecuting high-level corruption cases was at 44 percent.
Pulse Asia conducted its survey among 1,200 respondents from Dec. 12 to 15, with a ± 2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.
The survey period was days after the Sandiganbayan declared resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co and three others as fugitives from justice, as well as the surrender of government contractor Sarah Discaya.
Groups and advocates also led massive protests against corruption on Nov. 30.
Among the notable events within the last quarter of 2025 was the resignation of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who were tagged to the controversy.
Two ICI commissioners have also stepped down, raising fears that the independent panel may end its existence sooner than later.
