Tracing the money, exposing the network: A year of Rappler investigations
MANILA, Philippines – On July 23, photos of a cardboard cutout of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. standing behind a podium went viral on Filipinos’ social media feeds. The President’s standee was partly submerged in knee-deep flood along a residential street. Beside it, Greenpeace activists held a huge banner that said, “This is the state of the nation.”
It was a few days before the President was to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address. The country was reeling from the aftermath of Tropical Storm Crising (Wipha) and the southwest monsoon. Filipinos were reminded of the President’s one-year-old SONA promise of addressing the country’s persisting flood problem.
Inevitably, the President was forced to put emphasis on the issue on SONA day. Two weeks later, Marcos released a list of 15 contractors that had secured a substantial portion of government-implemented flood control projects, triggering one of the largest news coverages in the country — even bigger than the 2025 election coverage.
Most of Rappler’s 12 investigative stories in 2025 looked into the flood control corruption scandal.
Over the past several months, we were able to look into 41 names linked to the scandal as of posting time (thanks to the community’s tips and leads). We were able to do full-blown investigations into five of those names, the links to which are found below.
Aside from the flood control scandal, Rappler also took the time to look into the rise of Senator Rodante Marcoleta in 2025, exploring the political power of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo — timely, as 2025 marks the tenth year since the INC scandal blew up in 2015.
In August, Rappler compiled all investigations and in-depth stories tackling the huge church scandal. The link to the compilation is also found below.
Over the holiday season, take the time to read these stories and catch up on issues before we head on to an exciting 2026.
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FLOOD CONTROL CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Marcos aide Jojo Cadiz has ties to contractor with big Ilocos Norte projects
JSJ Builders Inc, whose DPWH contracts are all located in Ilocos Norte, is owned by Cadiz’s 21-year-old son.
Inside Congress, Gardiola recruits lawmakers for DPWH kickback racket
Several House sources exclusively confide to Rappler that Gardiola had tried to convince them to be complicit in his shady public works kickback scheme.
Zaldy Co 2.0? Congressman Gardiola’s scheme to buy and sell DPWH projects
Contractor-turned-lawmaker Gardiola pays off budget gatekeepers to get projects, then resells them to contractors for profit, according to Rappler’s investigation.
Martin Romualdez transfers P130-M US property to corporation for just $1
The multi-million-peso property in an affluent Massachusetts town is transferred via a quitclaim deed to a corporation whose registered president has ties to Romualdez.
Firm owned by Senator Mark Villar’s uncle bagged P390M in flood control projects
Christian Aguilar’s sons — Lord Linley and Carlo — both served as Las Piñas councilors. The sons are also current officers of their father’s firm.
Dutertes’ longtime friend is Davao’s top contractor for flood control projects
Glenn Escandor’s Genesis88 bagged 35 flood control projects amounting to P2.9 billion in the Davao Region.
Gardiola clan’s DPWH deals hit billions after congressman wins
DPWH contracts bagged by the Gardiolas’ construction companies have constantly surpassed P1 billion annually since CWS Representative Edwin Gardiola became a congressman.
Zaldy Co still ‘beneficial owner’ of scandal-ridden public works contractor
Congressman Zaldy Co may have sold his stake in Sunwest’s scandal-plagued infrastructure arm, but documents show he, his family, and friends continue to be active shareholders of other businesses closely tied to the company.
Mapping the scandal-plagued business fortunes of Zaldy Co
Zaldy Co, the recently removed chairman of the House budget committee, is a tycoon who has built a successful construction empire.
IGLESIA NI CRISTO
The rise of Senator Rodante Marcoleta
Data analyzed by Rappler and The Nerve, a data forensics company, pinpoint factors that led to Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s surprise victory.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta, the gentleman from Iglesia
From survey laggard to Senate sixth placer, is Rodante Marcoleta proof of Iglesia ni Cristo’s political power?
10 years on: The 2015 INC controversies revisited
Revisit the reports from 2015 that captured the turmoil and revealed the cracks within one of the country’s most powerful institutions.
OTHER RAPPLER INVESTIGATIONS AND EXPLAINERS
As Garma seeks asylum, her alleged property sits on Cebu’s protected hilltops
The property supposedly owned by former PCSO general manager Royina Garma sits on land declared a protected area.
Read Articles of Impeachment vs Sara Duterte, annotated and explained
Rappler reporters and editors annotate the Articles of Impeachment with insights to help readers understand the complex legal and political issues.
TRANSLATED VERSIONS
Martin Romualdez inilipat ang P130-M US property sa korporasyon kapalit ng $1 lang
Ang multi-million-peso property sa isang mayamang bayan sa Massachusetts ay inilipat sa pamamagitan ng quitclaim deed sa isang korporasyong ang rehistradong presidente ay may kaugnayan kay Romualdez.
P130-M propriyedad ni Martin Romualdez sa US, gibalhin sa korporasyon bugti sa $1
Ang multi-million-peso nga propriyedad sa Massachusetts, USA gibalhin pinaagi sa quitclaim deed ngadto sa usa ka korporasyon nga ang narehistro nga presidente dunay koneksyon kang Romualdez.
– Rappler.com
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