The Philippine government has been thrust into a new wave of political turbulence as two top Cabinet members-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman-tendered their resignations following allegations of a massive corruption scheme tied to flood-control projects. Their departures come at a sensitive moment for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr,, whose administration is grappling with an energized protest movement, public anger over alleged misuse of taxpayer funds, and intensifying scrutiny of infrastructure spending.

The resignations were formally accepted by the President and framed by Malacañang as acts of “ethical principle,” a phrase signaling that neither Bersamin nor Pangandaman admitted wrongdoing but chose to step aside to protect the integrity of their offices. Still, the optics of losing two key officials in rapid succession-both of whom oversee critical levers of government operations-have fueled doubts about the administration’s internal controls and commitment to transparency.

The political fallout was accelerated by unprecedented street demonstrations in Manila. For three consecutive days, hundreds of thousands of people-many mobilized by the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC)-packed the Quirino Grandstand area,........

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