[7] In 2012, President Benigno Aquino concluded that, according to Transparency International, the factors driving the progress in the Philippines' Corruption Perception Index scores at that time were improved government service and reduced red tape.
She and two others were convicted of plunder in 2001 by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for diverting P260 million of tax payments to unauthorized bank accounts.
[14] In 2014, incumbent senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile along with Janet Lim Napoles were charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly pocketing kickbacks in the pork barrel scam.
[16] In 2025, Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives over multiple charges, including allegations of malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds, bribery, and unexplained wealth.
[18] The Supreme Court of the Philippines has issued three separate rulings ordering the Marcoses to return the wealth stolen from the country.
There are several reports of national police officers and members of the military engaging in criminal activities such as extortion, corruption and involvement in local rackets.
Financial investment dispute often take an unnecessarily long time due to staffing shortages, lack of resources, and corruption in the court system.
[4] On May 24, 2024, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested a Pasay City Regional Trial Court, Branch 108, employee In flagrante delicto accepting a P6 million bribe for a favorable ruling in a civil case.
24-05-21-SC", the High Tribunal ordered a 90 calendar days preventive suspension of Judge Albert T. Cansino and OIC, Acting Court clerk Mariejoy P. Lagman.
[24][25] In the separate criminal investigation, the NBI Cybercrime Division, Chief Jeremy C. Lotoc said that the cases will be filed with the DOJ against Clerk Lagman for graft, direct bribery, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
[26] The Department of Justice in a Resolution dated May 24 charged Mariejoy Lagman for the crimes of direct bribery (Article 210, Revised Penal Code), including violations of Section 3(b), R.A. No.
[28] Called the padrino system, one gains favor, promotion, or political appointment through family affiliation (nepotism) or friendship (cronyism), as opposed to one's merit.
According to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), nepotism is a form of corruption or abuse of authority that violates Article IX (B), Section 2 (2) of the Constitution that states that "Appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined, as far as practicable, and, except to positions which are policy-determining, primarily confidential, or highly technical, by competitive examination."