Veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila has condemned what she described as “systemic corruption” in the government’s infrastructure projects, following the catastrophic flooding in Cebu that claimed at least 188 lives — the worst flash flood in the province’s history.
In a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Davila expressed outrage and grief over the tragedy, saying corruption has once again cost Filipino lives.
“HOW CORRUPTION MAY HAVE COST LIVES. 188 dead and rising. The worst flash flood in the history of the province. Cebu has 414 flood control projects worth ₱26.7 billion from 2022 to 2025 — meant to protect our people, homes and livestock. What happened?!” she wrote.
Citing data from ABS-CBN’s Research & Verification Unit, Davila noted that from 2022 to 2025, Cebu had 414 flood control projects amounting to ₱26.7 billion, intended to safeguard residents from flooding. Yet, she said, these projects either failed or were never completed.
“Extreme weather conditions will only worsen. It is part of the world we live in today. What breaks my heart is seeing how our people are suffering because of systemic corruption,” she continued. “Nakaka-awa ang ordinaryong Pilipino. Habang nagdurusa sa hirap at kalamidad, maraming pulitiko naliligo sa nakaw na yaman. PLEASE. STOP. STEALING.”
Davila’s post has gone viral, sparking a wave of outrage from both citizens and public figures. Many echoed her sentiments, linking the Cebu tragedy to widespread corruption in infrastructure and flood-control projects.
Meanwhile, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro revealed that many of the flood-control structures built under past administrations were either substandard or “ghost projects.”
The mounting public pressure has prompted a national investigation into the ₱26.7-billion flood-control program, which is now part of a broader corruption probe into infrastructure projects across the country.
