Metro Manila, Philippines – 2025 was eventful on many fronts for the country midway into the Marcos administration.
Voters chose their next set of local and national leaders in May, the culmination of a year-long engagement in politics punctuated by a watchful public eye on the national budget that was plagued by corruption in flood control projects, and the search for justice in the bloody war on drugs.
NewsWatch Plus highlights the news that hogged headlines:
High-stakes organized budget scam
The flood control corruption scandal rocked the nation to its core as it suffered back-to-back devastation brought by successive killer storms. No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed the scam in his State of the Nation Address, even threatening to pin down political allies and relatives.
The alleged anomalies in projects, budget insertions, and project kickbacks triggered a leadership change in Congress, as well as the creation by the president of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in September to investigate the extent of corruption.
Three months into its task, the ICI lost two commissioners – former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV and Co. country managing partner Rossana Fajardo – leaving chairman Andres Reyes Jr. to handle the probe.
Its independent investigation seems to have reached its end-stage, but fell short on its promise to arrest the “big fish” by the holidays. In exchange, hundreds of millions of pesos were surrendered to the government by so-called small players in the scam.
The manhunt continues for resigned AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who the government believed was in Portugal. Sarah Discaya, a top contractor who owned dozens of luxury cars and lost the Pasig City mayoral bid, was arrested.
Public Works Undersecretary Cathy Cabral, who was alleged to have facilitated lawmakers’ project insertions in the 2026 budget proposal, was found unconscious and unresponsive at the bottom of a ravine on Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said evidence so far pointed to self-harm.
Digong sent to The Hague
In the first quarter, the Filipino people – and the world – witnessed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte in March for crimes against humanity for murder in relation to his bloody war on drugs. He has been detained at a facility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte first appeared at the ICC on March 14, but a full-blown trial has yet to proceed. His defense lawyers have argued against the court’s jurisdiction over the case, as well as his supposed cognitive decline.
Back home, Duterte’s children challenged the arrest with the Supreme Court. While a favorable ruling may not change the fate of their father, it could serve as guidance on the rumored ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, the chief implementer of the war on drugs.
If Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s information holds water, the warrant has been issued, prompting Dela Rosa to skip Senate sessions and budget deliberations since November, and to seek Supreme Court relief on a possible arrest, which the court dismissed.
Sara Duterte impeached
Before her father’s dramatic arrest, Sara Duterte was in the hot seat as the first vice president impeached by the House of Representatives in February. The complaint cited Duterte’s alleged anomalous spending of millions in confidential funds.
On a petition of Duterte, the Supreme Court ordered a stop to the proceedings. The justices ruled that the Articles of Impeachment sent to the Senate violated the one-year constitutional bar.
The Senate, composed of several Duterte allies, archived the impeachment case pending the SC decision on the House appeal.
Elections, Cabinet shake-up
Filipinos cast their ballots in the midterm elections, with results in the senatorial race contradicting pre-election surveys.
For President Bongbong Marcos, the poll results were a political blow with only five administration-backed candidates in the so-called “magic 12,” or the winning senatorial bets. The other five are from the Duterte camp, and two from the opposition identified with former Vice President Leni Robredo.
The seeming rising public dissatisfaction in governance prompted Marcos to announce a Cabinet shake-up that resulted in the exit of Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, who faced criticisms for her foreign travels, and Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who refused to represent the government in the Supreme Court petitions against Duterte’s arrest.
The flood control scandal resulted in more changes in the Cabinet with the resignations of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan – all linked to the controversy.
Vince Dizon, former transportation chief, replaced Bonoan in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
First open budget deliberations
It was a historic first for the budget process as the bicameral conference committee meetings – composed of senators and representatives – reconciled differences in the budget bill in open session and live-streamed. The traditional “small committee,” which had privately finalized the budget behind closed doors, was abolished as part of the transparency push.
Lawmakers were at a deadlock on the substantial cuts in the DPWH budget, pushing back the calendar to the final days of the year. Malacañang has confirmed that Marcos will sign the P6.793-trillion budget bill in the first week of January, resulting in a reenacted budget in the initial days of 2026.
Other major news
Killer storms and quakes. In September, a magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake hit Bogo, Cebu that killed at least 79 people in the province. By October, at least 10 people were dead after a doublet earthquake with magnitudes of 7.4 and 6.8 jolted Manay, Davao Oriental.
In November, Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) brought strong winds and heavy rains that triggered massive floods in the Visayas, particularly in Cebu. Over 200 were killed. Days later, Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong) hit Luzon and left over 30 people dead.
Missing ‘sabungeros.’ The case of the missing 34 cockfight enthusiasts or sabungero resurfaced after suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan publicly accused businessman Atong Ang as the mastermind. He added that the bodies were dumped in Taal Lake, where authorities have undertaken search operations.
The Department of Justice has filed charges against Ang that include kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Imee’s claims – Sen. Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, accused her brother, the president, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and their eldest son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, of using drugs. Malacañang denied the claims, which were made during a speech at the anti-corruption rally of the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo.
Sports Watch. Alex Eala showed Filipino global excellence in tennis after a good season run, defeating some top-seeded players in Grand Slam matches. She was the first Filipino to clinch a Women’s Tennis Association title after her win at the Guadalajara 125 Open final.
Meanwhile, Team Philippines finished sixth place at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Among the highlights was the Filipinas’ first-ever SEA Games gold in a rout of Vietnam via a penalty shootout final.
Transitions. The Philippines also mourned some personalities: veteran actress Gloria Romero, Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales, National Artist Nora Aunor, and veteran politician Juan Ponce Enrile, among others.
Emman Atienza, a young social media influencer, was also honored by many in the virtual world for her mental health advocacy.
Tune in to NewsWatch Plus’ YouTube channel for the full episode of ReWatch 2025.
