MANILA, Philippines — There is a dedicated chat room in the Rappler app that lets you report suspected corruption in your community.

The CorruptionWatch chat room is a public chat room in the Rappler app where app users can send information, photos, and documents about abuse of public funds. Solid tips and leads will be relayed to Rappler researchers and reporters for follow-up investigation.

This chat room was formerly Rappler’s FloodControlPH chat room, where app users sent info about flood control projects they found suspicious. Several of these tips ended up becoming actual reports published on Rappler. 

How to report 

If you’ve seen something that doesn’t seem right in your community, you can now tell us directly, and in real time.

With just one report in the Rappler app, you can share with journalists evidence of corruption, such as misuse of public funds, abuse of power, or any irregularities in government projects. 

To get started, download the Rappler app for free on Play Store or App Store, go to the Communities tab, and join the CorruptionWatch chat room.

Once you’re in, please ensure that your messages to the chat room contain the following:

• Location – where the corruption happened
• People involved – names, positions, or roles of those involved, if known
• Your experience – what you saw or experienced firsthand (be as detailed and specific as possible. Don’t share secondhand information, or the experience of others.)
• Relevant photos or documents – include date, time, and description (please do not send altered or edited images) 

If you would rather share information privately, you can report safely in the chat room using an alias. You may also submit your report through this form:

Watch this video for a quick guide on how and what to report. By following these steps, you help build a more transparent and accountable community. 

See you in the CorruptionWatch chat room! — Aidan Bernales, Joan Alindogan, Franz Lawrence De Castro/Rappler.com