Seven out of 10 Filipinos favor candidates who are anti-corruption advocates, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group.
The survey was conducted on February 15 to 19, several days after the official start of the national campaign period. It asked 1,800 respondents nationwide and has a 2% margin of error.
Results show that 70% of Filipinos said they will vote for a candidate who will advocate for “eradicating graft and corruption in government”.
Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said that corruption is an important election issue because it affects every single Filipino.
“Corruption is more than just a political issue, it is a daily burden on every Filipino. Every peso lost to corruption is a peso taken from essential services that could’ve uplifted the lives of ordinary citizens,” Manhit said.
“Corruption deepens poverty. It rewards the powerful and abusive, while leaving the poor behind. It forces hardworking Filipinos to pay extra for services that should be free and accessible. Worse, it normalizes dishonesty in society, making it harder for honest leaders to create real change,” he explained.
Manhit explained that elections is the most important accountability mechanism in a democratic country like the Philippines.
“Elections are the cornerstone of democracy. Voting allows citizens to elect leaders who will act in their best interests and remove from power those who have abused public trust and the public funds,” Manhit said.
“Through elections, we hold officials accountable for their actions. If they failed to deliver on their promises, misused public funds, or engaged in corruption, the ballot is our weapon to replace them. When we vote wisely, we set higher standards for leadership and demand good governance,” he added.
This coming May 2025, Manhit urged voters to scrutinize candidates and vote for leaders who are real advocates against corruption.
“The fight against corruption is not just an individual choice—it is a collective responsibility. As a nation, we must stand together and reject leaders who hide behind secrecy, reject transparency, and refuse to be held accountable for their actions. If a candidate avoids scrutiny, conceals government transactions, or defends corrupt practices, they do not deserve our vote,” Manhit said.
“Every corrupt official we elect weakens our future. But when we unite and vote for honest, competent leaders, we pave the way for real change. This 2025, let’s come together, rise above disinformation, and demand transparency. Our vote is our power. Let’s use it to defeat corruption,” he also said.
