Powerful Philippine politicians will be in jail by Christmas for corruption scandal, president says

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says many of at least 37 powerful senators, members of Congress and wealthy businesspeople implicated in a massive corruption scandal involving flood control projects will be locked up in jail by Christmas. Marcos has been trying to quell public outrage and street protests over the corruption scandal. Marcos said on Thursday that an independent fact-finding commission he created has filed criminal complaints for graft and corruption and plunder, a non-bailable offense, against the 37 suspects. Criminal complaints have also been filed against 86 construction company executives and nine government officials for allegedly evading taxes totaling nearly $152 million.