Business, workers groups to Marcos: Take ‘bold, concrete’ steps vs corruption

The country’s largest business groups and trade unions on Sunday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to undertake “bold, concrete actions” against corruption to restore Filipinos’ faith in the government – such as genuine reforms in the national budget process, the recovery of stolen wealth, and the creation of a special Sandiganbayan division that will solely handle infrastructure corruption cases.

In an open letter, business and workers groups made an urgent appeal for the President to “firmly and fearlessly lead” in confronting the “largest and most brazen corruption scandal” in the country’s history.

The open letter was penned by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

Although they credited the President for calling out the shamelessness of corrupt government officials and contractors in his State of the Nation Address in July, they also expressed lament at the actions taken afterwards.

“Instead of hold departure orders, we are told to be content with immigration lookout bulletins for now. Instead of criminal charges, we are fed daily promises of cases ‘soon to be filed.’ Instead of open transparent hearings, we get closed-door investigations whose direction remains unknown,” they said.

“Instead of going after the most guilty, we are led on political detours, chasing the less guilty, depending on who sits where and who stands with whom. So what now, Mr. President?”

The joint statement then proposed five “bold, concrete actions to restore faith in government” lest Filipinos’ patience finally run out.

The business and workers’ groups pushed for the creation of a special division in the Sandiganbayan that will solely handle infrastructure corruption cases “to ensure that investigations swiftly and surely lead to prosecution and convictions.”

This is “regardless if the guilty is foe, friend, or family, no matter how high in power,” they said.

They also sought the recovery of the wealth stolen from public funds meant for flood control and infrastructure projects through immediate asset freezing, insurance recovery, and restitution of misused public funds.

The government should also “reallocate a good portion to genuine social reform that supports the Filipino people, especially workers.”

The joint statement also pushed for genuine reforms in the entire national budget process, which should not stop at opening Congress’ hearings and bicameral conference committee meetings to the public.

True reforms, they said, should include the institutionalization of “meaningful multi-sectoral participation from the very start of the preparation of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) so that it is not merely the President’s budget, but truly the People’s Budget.”

The President was also urged to convene regular sectoral dialogues with both workers and employees as they are very aware of the cost of corruption on jobs, investments, and everyday Filipinos.

The business and employees’ groups said this is necessary “to rebuild confidence where the roadmap of the anti-corruption drive is discussed and progress, including the challenges in prosecution and recovery are reported.”

They also asked Marcos to certify as urgent proposed legislation the bill granting the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) full subpoena and contempt powers.

The ICI, they added, should be directed to “conduct public hearings and publicly disclose all submissions, position papers, and supporting documents presented to the ICI to uncover the truth in full view of the people.”

Last week, ICI chair Andres Reyes Jr. said the fact-finding body will begin livestreaming its proceedings. ICI executive director Brian Hosaka later said the body will first draft its rules of procedures and parameters in livestreaming its proceedings.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to Malacañang and will publish its comment once available.

“Workers and employers have long carried the burden of building and sustaining this country through our labor, our enterprise, and our taxes. That’s why we can never be silent about the harsh truth that trillions have already been stolen from the public coffers,” the joint statement stressed.

They cited the September 2025 Pulse Asia survey results which showed that 97% of Filipinos believe corruption in the government is widespread, while 56% are ambivalent towards the ICI and only 39% trust the Ombudsman to address corruption.

They called on the President to “prove that this anti-corruption drive is not another soundbite for selective justice but the start of national renewal for true justice for our people.”

“For when justice is delayed and worst, denied, the reckless will tempt the restless to take dangerous extraconstitutional shortcuts,” they warned.

“A credible and vigorous anti-corruption campaign within the bounds of the rule of law and the Constitution will strengthen democratic institutions and safeguard our nation from further instability and disillusionment. The Filipino people are no longer just watching,” they added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News