‘She died because of the flood’: Filipinos rise up as outrage over corruption scandal grows

Allegations related to flood control projects have sparked widespread anger and protests in the Philippines

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hilippine health worker Christina Padora waded through July’s waist-high flood water to check on vaccines and vital medications stored in the village clinic, something she had regularly done during previous typhoons.

But this time she didn’t make it. Taking hold of a metal pole that she failed to see was connected to a live wire, the 49-year-old was fatally electrocuted in the water.

Padora’s death in the province of Bulacan is one of dozens of recent flood-related fatalities in the Philippines, where allegations of corruption related to flood control projects have sparked widespread anger and street protests. Lawmakers, contractors and public works officials are accused of siphoning off billions allocated for flood mitigation through “ghost projects”, overpricing and kickbacks.