A majority, or 73%, of Filipino adults perceive bribery as the most common type of corruption nationwide, based on a survey by OCTA Research.
The latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey, conducted in early December 2025, found that aside from bribery (73%), respondents also identified irregularities in public funds (66%), vote buying (64%), and slow justice (54%) as prevalent corruption issues.
OCTA suggested that bribery’s visibility in routine government transactions makes it the most recognizable form, noting that many Filipinos may have encountered or witnessed informal payments in frontline services.
The survey also found that while bribery ranked first overall, notable regional differences emerged. In the Visayas and Mindanao, vote buying was the second most commonly cited form of corruption, reflecting concerns about electoral integrity.
Differences also appeared across socioeconomic classes, with bribery ranking first in all groups. Among Class ABC respondents, irregularities in public funds ranked second (67%), followed by slow justice (64%) and vote buying (57%). Among Class D respondents, vote buying (61%) ranked ahead of slow justice (53%). In Class E, vote buying and slow justice were more prominent after bribery, while irregularities in public funds were cited less frequently.
Regionally, bribery, public fund irregularities, vote buying, and justice delays were the most reported issues. Some areas, including Regions X and XIII (Northern Mindanao and Caraga), also highlighted procurement irregularities.
Bribery was most cited in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions III, IV-B, V, VI, the Negros Island Region, Region X, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
OCTA said the consistency of concerns about bribery and slow justice may reflect daily experiences with administrative delays and accountability gaps, while greater awareness of public fund irregularities among older and more educated respondents points to concerns over fiscal governance.
The face-to-face survey was conducted from December 3 to 11, 2025, among 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above. It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates have a ±6% margin of error for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
