NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
UK PR Firm Allegedly Earned Millions To Rebrand Marcos Name
Photo credit: PCO
A new investigative report has revealed that a London-based political communications firm was allegedly paid around Php9 million a month to help improve the international image of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 election period.
According to investigative outlet Whale Hunting, the firm Project Associates — now known as Panterra Global — submitted a confidential proposal to Marcos Jr. a month before the 2022 presidential elections.
The proposal reportedly offered services that included arranging private meetings with Western diplomats, securing favorable international media coverage, and preparing talking points to address questions surrounding the Marcos family’s controversial history.
The report revisited allegations tied to former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was accused of plundering billions from government funds during his dictatorship before being ousted in 1986. It also mentioned former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who was convicted of corruption in 2018.
Whale Hunting noted that the international PR campaign complemented earlier social media efforts that allegedly aimed to reshape public perception of the Marcos family and portray the Martial Law years positively.
The report also connected the issue to the massive flooding that hit parts of Manila in August 2025, where investigators later alleged that supposed flood control and infrastructure projects were either incomplete, substandard, or nonexistent despite large amounts of public funding being released.
One of the victims mentioned in the report was health worker Christina Padora, who reportedly died from electrocution while wading through floodwaters to check on vaccines during the disaster.
The investigation cited previous reports by Rappler and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism involving alleged misuse of public infrastructure funds and luxury properties supposedly linked to political figures.
Then Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez was identified in the report as the “purported mastermind” of an alleged kickback scheme, though he denied the accusation in a video statement, saying, “I will not be the fall guy.”
The report further claimed that while authorities had frozen assets connected to hundreds of individuals and entities, no freeze orders had reportedly been issued against Marcos Jr. or members of his immediate family.
Whale Hunting argued that international PR campaigns and political image-building efforts may have helped soften global scrutiny toward corruption allegations tied to powerful political families in the Philippines.
The article has since sparked discussion online, with many netizens debating issues of accountability, political influence, and the role of media and public relations in shaping public perception.
With reporting from Caloy Conde of Rights Report.
According to investigative outlet Whale Hunting, the firm Project Associates — now known as Panterra Global — submitted a confidential proposal to Marcos Jr. a month before the 2022 presidential elections.
The proposal reportedly offered services that included arranging private meetings with Western diplomats, securing favorable international media coverage, and preparing talking points to address questions surrounding the Marcos family’s controversial history.
The report revisited allegations tied to former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was accused of plundering billions from government funds during his dictatorship before being ousted in 1986. It also mentioned former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who was convicted of corruption in 2018.
Whale Hunting noted that the international PR campaign complemented earlier social media efforts that allegedly aimed to reshape public perception of the Marcos family and portray the Martial Law years positively.
The report also connected the issue to the massive flooding that hit parts of Manila in August 2025, where investigators later alleged that supposed flood control and infrastructure projects were either incomplete, substandard, or nonexistent despite large amounts of public funding being released.
One of the victims mentioned in the report was health worker Christina Padora, who reportedly died from electrocution while wading through floodwaters to check on vaccines during the disaster.
The investigation cited previous reports by Rappler and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism involving alleged misuse of public infrastructure funds and luxury properties supposedly linked to political figures.
Then Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez was identified in the report as the “purported mastermind” of an alleged kickback scheme, though he denied the accusation in a video statement, saying, “I will not be the fall guy.”
The report further claimed that while authorities had frozen assets connected to hundreds of individuals and entities, no freeze orders had reportedly been issued against Marcos Jr. or members of his immediate family.
Whale Hunting argued that international PR campaigns and political image-building efforts may have helped soften global scrutiny toward corruption allegations tied to powerful political families in the Philippines.
The article has since sparked discussion online, with many netizens debating issues of accountability, political influence, and the role of media and public relations in shaping public perception.
With reporting from Caloy Conde of Rights Report.
May 20, 2026
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
