Philippines’ Flood-Control Corruption Scandal Exposes Costly Government Rot — What Does This Mean for America?

In the heart of Manila, thousands of Filipinos have risen up to denounce a deep-rooted corruption scandal entangling lawmakers, public officials, and business elites who allegedly funneled kickbacks from flood-control projects designed for the most vulnerable regions of this storm-prone nation. While the Philippines struggles with endemic poverty and climate challenges, this scandal reveals a systemic betrayal of public trust where vital infrastructure funds—amounting to nearly $9.5 billion—have been compromised by greed and political cronyism. The scale of this corruption not only undermines one of America's staunch allies in Southeast Asia but also signals the broader vulnerability of nations susceptible...