The Philippines is on edge as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. prepares to deliver his annual state of the nation address. The speech, scheduled for Monday, comes against a backdrop of significant challenges, including a major corruption scandal, an impeachment trial, and global economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East.
More than 23,000 police officers have been deployed to secure the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City where Marcos will deliver his penultimate address before his six-year term ends in mid-2028. Key roads leading to the presidential palace in Manila have been barricaded with barbed wire and riot police to deter protesters.
Security concerns heighten ahead of address
Security concerns have been heightened following a small homemade bomb explosion near the gate of the Department of Justice in Manila before dawn on Monday. The explosion caused no injuries or major damage. Separately, bomb parts were found near the Senate in suburban Pasay City which had not been assembled and were apparently aimed “only to sow terror or fear,” according to national police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr..
The corruption scandal and its implications
Marcos is expected to outline new programs to mitigate the impact of the renewed hostilities in the Middle East. He declared a yearlong national energy emergency in March as the war raged to ensure the adequate supply of fuel, food, and agricultural products and to prevent hoarding.
In last year’s state-of-the-nation speech, Marcos highlighted widespread corruption in flood-control projects as the Philippines struggled to recover from deadly flooding and landslides that killed dozens of villagers and displaced more than 200,000 people. Separate government and congressional investigations that followed implicated dozens of House and Senate members, along with government public works engineers and officials, who allegedly pocketed huge kickbacks from flood-control projects.
Their lavish lifestyles, including fleets of private jets and European cars, sparked public outrage and protests. A current and a former member of the 24-member Senate have been indicted and detained for large-scale corruption in connection with the anomalies. A leading suspect and former House member fled to Europe. Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan who served under Marcos, has denied any wrongdoing but has also been indicted in connection with the anomalies and is in hospital detention.
Calls for rapid prosecution of influential legislators
Many have clamored for more influential legislators to be rapidly prosecuted. Critics have questioned why one of the leading suspects, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez — the president’s cousin and key ally who denies any wrongdoing — had not been charged. Marcos has pledged that even his allies will be locked up in jail if there is evidence.
“We have done enough because we’re not done yet,” Marcos said. “Unfortunately, the more we look, the more we find.”
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte Marcos’ former ally, is also underway. Duterte faces charges that include corruption and threatening the president. The trial adds another layer of complexity to the political landscape as Marcos prepares to address the nation.
