Philippines budget chief vows crackdown on corruption in first address

The Philippines' new budget secretary, Kim Robert de Leon, used his first official address on Wednesday to pledge a crackdown on corruption and misuse of public funds, vowing to prevent a repeat of past scandals that have eroded public trust. The 32-year-old, now the youngest budget chief and Cabinet member in the nation's history, made the commitment during a leadership turnover ceremony at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in Manila.

De Leon directly referenced controversies surrounding government-funded flood control projects, stating that such abuses of the national budget would not be allowed to happen again. He emphasized that his mandate from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is clear: every peso must reach the public. The new secretary said there is no room for corruption, negligence, or projects that provide no public benefit under his leadership.

He acknowledged widespread public frustration over delayed government services, slowing economic growth, and rising fuel prices. In response, De Leon pledged to restore confidence through faster service delivery, tighter accountability, and reforms focused on transparency and efficiency. He stated that bureaucratic...