By REUTERS

The Philippines fell six places to rank 120th out of 182 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2025, as the flood control projects controversy was laid bare as one of the country’s largest corruption scandals.

The index, compiled by global anti-corruption monitor Transparency International, measures how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived by experts and businesspeople.

It covers the following manifestations of public sector corruption:

• Bribery
• Diversion of public funds
• Officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences
• Ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector
• Excessive red tape in the public sector which may increase opportunities for corruption
• Nepotistic appointments in the civil service
• Laws ensuring that public officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interest
• Legal protection for people who report cases of bribery and corruption
• State capture by narrow vested interests
• Access to information on public affairs/government activities

The index collates findings from 13 ratings agencies on 182 countries, ranking them from 1 to 182 based on a scoreboard that goes from 0 (very corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

The Philippines’ score of 32 is below the global average of 42 and places the Philippines in 120th place. The result is one point worse than its score of 33 in 2024, which put it in 114th place out of 180 countries measured.

Among other ASEAN nations the Philippines ranks below Singapore (3), Malaysia (54), Brunei (63), Timor-Leste (73), Vietnam (81), Laos (109), Indonesia (109), and Thailand (116). Only Cambodia (163) and military junta-run Myanmar (169) have worse placements on the corruption perception index.

At the top of the index is Denmark, while at the bottom with a joint rank of 181 are Somalia and South Sudan.