Philippines Protests Erupt Over Massive Flood-Control Corruption Scandal
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Philippine capital on Sunday, demanding jail time for officials, lawmakers, and construction company owners accused of siphoning billions of taxpayer pesos in a widespread corruption scandal. The outrage has been building for months in the Philippines, where severe typhoons have submerged entire towns, highlighting the deadly consequences of alleged “ghost” flood-control projects that never materialized.
The corruption scandal centers on so-called ghost projects within the Department of Public Works and Highways, which critics say diverted funds meant for essential flood-control infrastructure. In a country of 116 million, the consequences of mismanagement are evident: communities remain vulnerable to typhoon-driven floods, causing widespread displacement, property loss, and loss of life.
President Ferdinand Marcos has been under intense pressure as the scandal implicates not only political allies but also members of his own family, including a cousin in Congress. Marcos highlighted the issue during a national address in July, promising to pursue those responsible. However, public anger continues to simmer, as many perceive accountability as slow and incomplete.
Protests Target Palace and Historical Sites in Manila
On Sunday, demonstrators gathered at Luneta Park in Manila, the city’s historic public square, carrying banners and a striking effigy depicting Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte merged into a two-headed crocodile symbolizing corruption. Protesters faced barricades wrapped in barbed wire as riot police clashed with the crowd, pounding shields to maintain order.
Meanwhile, about 10 kilometers away, another group marched along EDSA, the site of the 1986 People Power Movement that toppled Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The crowd demanded that corrupt officials be “put in jail now,” drawing a symbolic connection between historical struggles against abuse of power and the current fight for accountability in the Philippines.
Official estimates suggest fewer than 10,000 people participated, although more than 17,000 police officers were deployed to maintain security.
The government announced the first arrests linked to the scandal just days before the demonstrations. Eight members of the Department of Public Works and Highways have been detained, but officials promised that more high-ranking individuals, or “big fish,” are expected to face charges.
Many protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of justice. Mervin Toquero, a representative from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, told AFP that the higher officials must also be held accountable. “It’s impossible that that corruption happened without the knowledge of the higher officials,” he said.
Twenty-year-old drag performer Jessie Wanaluvmi J highlighted the human toll of the scandal: “There are people who died because of the corruption that is happening,” she said ahead of her performance at Luneta.
For others, social media has amplified calls for action. Sixty-eight-year-old Azon Tobiano, who brought her granddaughter to the park, said she had been motivated by an online call to action. “I really hope that justice will be served. I hope the president will be resolute to put in jail those accountable, whether it’s his relatives or senators,” she added.
The current scandal underscores a long history of corruption in the Philippines, where politicians accused of embezzling public funds often escape meaningful jail time. Many citizens believe that systemic problems, rather than isolated acts, perpetuate corruption and weaken institutions meant to safeguard public resources.
At the EDSA protest, 23-year-old Cuitlauzina Cerbito stressed that accountability cannot rest on one individual alone. “In order to change these things, it can’t be one person doing actions. It has to be all of us together,” she told AFP, reflecting a growing movement calling for broad civic engagement in tackling corruption in the Philippines.
The scandal has resonated across the country because the alleged ghost projects have had direct consequences on the lives of ordinary Filipinos. In recent months, typhoons have submerged entire towns, leaving residents homeless and vulnerable. Protesters argue that the billions allegedly pocketed by corrupt officials could have prevented some of the destruction, underscoring the deadly consequences of misappropriated public funds.
Sunday’s marches reflect a rising tide of frustration in the Philippines, as citizens demand swift and transparent justice. From historic sites like EDSA to public spaces like Luneta Park, people are uniting across generations to call for systemic reform. With initial arrests just a first step, many Filipinos hope President Marcos and his administration will take decisive action to punish those responsible and prevent similar scandals in the future.
As protests continue to grow, the Philippines faces a pivotal moment: whether public outrage will translate into meaningful legal and political accountability, or whether the entrenched patterns of corruption will persist.
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