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Palace says directive expands probe into questionable flood-control projects

MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive lifestyle audit of all government officials, expanding the government’s anti-corruption drive beyond infrastructure agencies and into the wider bureaucracy.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced the directive during a Malacañang briefing on August 27, 2025. She said the order is tied to the administration’s transparency campaign and complements the probe into questionable flood-control programs.

Flood-control projects under scrutiny

The President’s move comes amid growing concerns over the handling of flood-control allocations. The Commission on Audit (COA) has launched a fraud audit in Bulacan, covering projects from January 2022 to July 2025. Auditors are conducting geo-tagged inspections and requiring photo and video documentation to confirm reported accomplishments.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has also begun a tax-compliance investigation into contractors linked to flagged projects, with the possibility of suspending tax clearances where irregularities are found.

Earlier, lawmakers had pressed for lifestyle checks on officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), long seen as a focal point in infrastructure spending. The President’s directive now widens that scope to all government officials, regardless of agency or rank.

Implications for governance

Lifestyle audits are generally used to compare a public official’s declared assets with actual spending and property holdings, with the aim of uncovering unexplained wealth. Advocates say these checks can strengthen accountability if conducted consistently and transparently.

The Palace has yet to release details on which agencies will oversee the audits, how they will be implemented, or when results will be made public.

Lifestyle checks in the Philippines

Under Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, all government officials are required to file an annual Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). These documents serve as the foundation for many lifestyle audits.

In 2020, however, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended its own lifestyle check program and restricted public access to SALNs, citing concerns about misuse. That move drew criticism from advocates of transparency, who argued it weakened an important safeguard against corruption.

The new directive from Marcos represents one of the most sweeping calls for lifestyle audits in recent years, covering not just a single department but the entire government bureaucracy. Observers say its effectiveness will depend on independence, uniform application, and whether findings are acted upon decisively.