Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Manila, Philippines, demanding accountability over a massive corruption scandal tied to flood-control projects and top government officials, including allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The three-day demonstration, beginning Sunday, comes amid widespread public outrage over substandard or nonexistent flood infrastructure that has exacerbated the impact of recent storms.
Massive Demonstrations Across Manila
Police estimated that 27,000 members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) convened at Rizal Park, many wearing white and carrying anticorruption placards. Brother Edwin Zabala, spokesperson for the church, described the rally as an opportunity to “lend the voice of the Iglesia ni Cristo to the calls of many of our countrymen condemning the enormous evil involving many government officials.”
Other groups planned separate protests at the People Power Monument in Quezon City. Authorities deployed 15,000 police officers to maintain security, while the military reiterated its support for the government ahead of the rallies.
Allegations of Corruption
The protests follow reports that several well-connected political figures, including Marcos’s cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, allegedly pocketed billions of pesos from anti-flooding projects that were either low in quality or never completed.
The Philippines Department of Finance estimates the country lost up to ₱118.5 billion ($2 billion) between 2023 and 2025 due to corruption in flood-control projects, some of which have been labeled “ghost infrastructure projects.”
A fact-finding commission has filed criminal complaints against 37 individuals, including senators, members of Congress, and wealthy businesspeople. Additional complaints target 86 construction company executives and nine government officials for allegedly evading nearly ₱9 billion ($153 million) in taxes.
Among those implicated are lawmakers both allied with and opposed to Marcos, including Senate President Chiz Escudero and Senator Bong Go, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte. All have denied wrongdoing.
Public Outrage Fueled by Recent Storms
Recent typhoons have devastated parts of the country, killing at least 259 people this month alone, heightening anger over mismanaged flood-control funds. President Marcos pledged that those implicated in the scandal would face jail time before Christmas, though he said his cousin would not face charges immediately due to insufficient evidence.
“We don’t file cases for optics,” Marcos said. “We file cases to put people in jail.”
Protesters staged demonstrations with effigies of the president, highlighting widespread frustration over perceived government negligence and corruption.
Military Stance and Political Stability
Despite isolated calls from some pro-Duterte supporters to withdraw military support from Marcos, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, led by General Romeo Brawner Jr., reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional order and public safety.
“With full conviction, I assure the public that the armed forces will not engage in any action that violates the Constitution. Not today, not tomorrow and certainly not under my watch,” Brawner stated.
He emphasized that the military remains dedicated to preserving peace, supporting lawful civic expression, and protecting democratic institutions.
Conclusion
The ongoing protests in the Philippines reflect deep public frustration over corruption, particularly in the mismanagement of flood-control infrastructure in a typhoon-prone nation. With billions of pesos allegedly misappropriated and accountability still pending, these demonstrations highlight the urgent demand for government transparency, political responsibility, and anti-corruption reforms.
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