ECGI Raises Philippines from Medium to High Risk Amid Escalating Public Unrest and Deepening Corruption Crisis
Sharp rise in the Philippines’ risk score—from 69.2 to 71.65—officially shifting the country from Medium Risk to High Risk..
NEWS
SAFN-Economic Crime & Geopolitics Center
11/17/2025
Washington,D.C (November 17th, 2025) – The Economic Crime & Geopolitics Index (ECGI) has released updated findings revealing a sharp rise in the Philippines’ risk score—from 69.2 to 71.65—officially shifting the country from Medium Risk to High Risk. This surge reflects intensifying public agitation, mass mobilization, and increasingly visible cracks in the country’s institutional response to corruption.
One of the most significant drivers behind the heightened score is the public response factor, which has climbed notably due to widespread protests and heightened civic activism. Large-scale demonstrations led by grassroots movements and non-governmental organizations have gained momentum, underscoring society’s frustration and declining trust in public institutions.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently pledged to jail those involved in the USD 2 billion corruption scandal “before Christmas.” However, given the deeply entrenched nature of systemic corruption—with 37 influential senators, members of Congress, and prominent business figures implicated—the likelihood of swift accountability remains low.
Despite these challenges, the government has initiated certain corrective steps, including the establishment of an independent fact-finding commission. Criminal complaints have been filed against 86 construction company executives and nine government officials for alleged tax evasion amounting to nearly 9 billion pesos. While these actions signal intent, they have not been sufficient to restore public confidence or stem protest activity.
“With the Philippines now entering the High-Risk category, the increase in civic mobilization highlights a population unwilling to tolerate longstanding systemic failures,” the ECGI assessment notes. “Unless structural reforms are accelerated and political will is reinforced, public unrest is expected to intensify.”
As demonstrations continue to grow in scale and frequency, the ECGI warns that the country’s governance environment faces a crucial inflection point. Persistent corruption, institutional paralysis, and an empowered civil society could redefine the Philippines’ political trajectory in the months ahead.
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