The year 2025 became a convergence point for long-simmering controversies, testing the limits of the Philippines’ current administration under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and exposing cracks in executive oversight.
In February, scrutiny went to Sara Duterte, after an impeachment complaint linked to the alleged misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds was transmitted from the House of Representatives to the Senate. The complaint was later archived, effectively halting proceedings and highlighting institutional inertia.
March brought international repercussions as former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in the Philippines pursuant to an International Criminal Court warrant and transferred to The Hague, where he faces crimes against humanity charges linked to his anti-drug campaign. Official police records cite more than 6,000 deaths, while human rights groups estimate the toll to be far higher, underscoring long-standing gaps in domestic accountability.
In July, fractures surfaced within the ruling family as President Marcos Jr. and Imee Marcos publicly clashed over policy, political alliances, and leadership direction. The proposed P5.7-trillion 2025 national budget soon drew scrutiny for allegedly enabling corruption in flood control projects. Lawmakers Zaldy Co, Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and Arjay Domasig—collectively referred to as the “BGC Boys”—along with contractor Edrick San Diego and the Discaya couple, Curlee and Sarah Discaya, were implicated as floods continued to displace thousands nationwide.
The year closed with a cascade of political disruptions in the fourth quarter. Anti-corruption protests erupted in September and November, followed by leadership shakeups that ended Chiz Escudero’s Senate presidency and Martin Romualdez’s term as House Speaker. The period was further darkened by the resignation and subsequent death of former DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral, after which documents dubbed the “Cabral files” circulated publicly, reportedly released by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste.
Political observers noted that the accumulation of scandals, stalled accountability, and visible internal fractures pointed to a weakened grip on governance—creating openings for political destabilization as the country heads toward 2026.