Philippines Erupts in Mass Protests Over Multi-Billion Dollar Flood Control Fraud
Philippines Erupts in Mass Protests Over Multi-Billion Dollar Flood Control Fraud
Massive anti-corruption protests have swept across the Philippines, with an estimated 130,000 people converging in Manila alone this past Sunday to voice outrage over a multi-billion dollar flood control fraud scandal. Demonstrators gathered at iconic sites like Luneta Park and the EDSA People Power Monument, demanding accountability for alleged bogus and substandard projects.
The widespread public anger stems from revelations that billions of dollars earmarked for crucial flood control infrastructure were either misused or for non-existent projects, following devastating monsoons. The Department of Finance estimates the national economy has already lost up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) between 2023 and 2025 due to this corruption, with other estimates soaring much higher.
The scandal gained significant traction after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the issue in July, and intensified this September when a construction firm accused nearly 30 lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials of receiving cash payments. While largely peaceful, police made 17 arrests after clashes near the presidential palace, where some protesters reportedly threw rocks and set fire to a barricade truck.
Prominent figures, including Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, have supported the rallies, emphasizing a goal to strengthen democracy rather than destabilize the government. President Marcos Jr. has acknowledged the public’s right to protest, urging continued peaceful demonstrations.
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