Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of the Philippine capital on Sunday, demanding accountability for a multibillion-peso corruption scandal tied to ghost flood-control projects.
What began as a largely peaceful rally at Luneta Park quickly escalated into scattered clashes as police used water cannon to disperse masked demonstrators who hurled rocks and set fire to tyres.
At least 17 protesters were arrested, while several police officers were treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the confrontations.
City officials estimated the turnout at nearly 50,000 people, one of the largest anti-corruption demonstrations in recent years. Many carried flags and banners declaring, “No more, too much, jail them,” while church leaders, student activists, and civil society groups led chants demanding justice.
The protests were triggered by revelations that as many as 9,855 flood-control projects worth 545 billion pesos (£128bn) showed signs of irregularities.
Anger intensified after Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, a wealthy couple whose companies secured multiple contracts, were seen flaunting fleets of luxury European and American cars.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who ordered an independent inquiry into the scandal in July, acknowledged public outrage. “I cannot blame people for protesting one bit,” he said on Monday, while calling for demonstrations to remain peaceful. He also placed the army on red alert as a precaution.
Sunday’s marches coincided with the anniversary of martial law declared by Marcos’s late father in 1972, a date heavy with historical resonance in the Philippines. The protests were staged along EDSA, the site of two “people power” uprisings that toppled dictatorships and presidents in past decades.
Christian churches, including the powerful Catholic hierarchy, played a prominent role in mobilising crowds. “We want reforms that will end corruption at every level,” said Althea Trinidad, a student activist. “We suffer while our leaders enrich themselves.”
For many, the scandal underscored the disconnect between official promises and daily hardships in one of Asia’s most disaster-prone nations. “If there is money for ghost projects, why is there none for hospitals or housing?” asked Aly Villahermosa, a nursing student. “The theft of our future is truly shameful.”
