The streets of Manila became the stage for both peaceful defiance and sudden flashes of unrest on Sunday, as thousands of Filipinos demanded accountability over one of the country’s largest public works scandals in recent years. While most of the rallies remained peaceful, a smaller group clashed with police near the presidential palace, resulting in at least 17 arrests.
A Nation in the Streets
An estimated 18,000 protesters turned out across Manila, converging on iconic spaces like the EDSA People Power Monument and Rizal Park. They carried banners condemning graft, waved national flags, and called for systemic reforms. For many Filipinos, the issue cuts deep: allegations that billions of pesos intended for flood-control projects were siphoned off by politicians and private contractors in a country where typhoons and floods claim lives every year.
“I feel bad that we wallow in poverty and we lose our homes, our lives and our future while they rake in a big fortune from our taxes,” said student activist Althea Trinidad from Bulacan, one of the hardest-hit provinces where projects were found to be substandard or even nonexistent.
Religious leaders joined the demonstrations, framing the fight as one for democratic integrity. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, urged Filipinos to show moral courage while remaining peaceful: “Our purpose is not to destabilize but to strengthen our democracy.”
Violence Near Malacañang
Away from the main rallies, a smaller group dressed in black set tires ablaze and hurled rocks at riot police guarding the approaches to the Malacañang presidential palace. Police responded swiftly, dispersing them and detaining 17 individuals.
The palace immediately went into lockdown, with roads blocked by security forces. Later, other groups sprayed graffiti on nearby walls, forcing police to deploy tear gas. Authorities warned they would tolerate no vandalism or violence, while still affirming citizens’ rights to protest peacefully.
“We respect the public’s right to peaceful assembly, but we strongly appeal to everyone to remain calm and refrain from violence,” the national police said in a statement.
The Scandal That Sparked the Outrage
The roots of the demonstrations trace back to July, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used his annual state of the nation address to expose massive irregularities in public works spending. He revealed that of 9,855 flood-control projects, worth more than 545 billion pesos ($9.5 billion), many were incomplete, defective, or entirely fictitious.
Calling the scale of corruption “horrible,” Marcos accepted the resignation of his public works secretary and created an independent commission to investigate. But public fury exploded when media coverage revealed the lavish lifestyle of contractors linked to the schemes.
A wealthy couple, Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, who had won numerous government contracts, showcased their garage filled with European and American luxury cars. One of their purchases, a British model worth 42 million pesos ($737,000), was flaunted on television with the justification that “it came with a free umbrella.”
The display enraged citizens, many of whom live in flood-prone neighborhoods with inadequate drainage or housing. For critics, the sight symbolized a government elite profiting while ordinary Filipinos paid the price in destroyed homes and lives.
Explosive Testimonies
Facing a Senate inquiry, the Discayas identified at least 17 legislators and officials who allegedly demanded kickbacks to award contracts. Weeks later, two senators were implicated in a separate House probe. Though all denied wrongdoing, multiple investigations are ongoing.
The fallout has already reshaped the country’s political landscape. Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez both resigned after being linked to the widening scandal. For observers, the resignations signal the gravity of the crisis and the pressure mounting on political elites.
Broader Implications
Corruption in infrastructure projects has long plagued the Philippines, but the current scandal is especially resonant. Flood control is not an abstract issue: the Philippines is battered by an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year, and climate change is intensifying rainfall and sea-level rise.
Billions of pesos misused on defective dikes, drainage channels, and levees means more lives at risk when storms hit. In provinces like Bulacan and Pampanga, residents have endured repeated flooding while contractors enriched themselves.
Economists warn that the scandal undermines both investor confidence and public trust. Transparency International consistently ranks the Philippines in the bottom third of its Corruption Perceptions Index, and watchdogs fear this episode could set back recent anti-graft gains.
Government’s Balancing Act
Marcos Jr. faces a delicate task: showing resolve in tackling corruption while maintaining stability. Analysts note that unlike previous scandals, this one implicates members across party lines, meaning the president risks alienating both allies and rivals.
So far, his strategy has been to create independent inquiries, accept resignations, and highlight his administration’s commitment to clean governance. But critics argue that unless top lawmakers and officials face prosecution, Filipinos will see the process as cosmetic.
Citizen Activism on the Rise
The protests reflect a surge in civic engagement. Civil society groups, universities, and church networks have mobilized to demand not just resignations but structural reforms: stronger procurement oversight, digital tracking of public works spending, and whistleblower protections.
For many young Filipinos, the moment recalls the spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the current president’s father. Yet activists stress that today’s fight is less about removing leaders than about making governance accountable.
What Comes Next
Investigations into the flood-control scandal are expected to last months, with the possibility of criminal charges against lawmakers and contractors. The Office of the Ombudsman has already begun gathering evidence for potential graft cases.
Meanwhile, public anger shows no signs of fading. Organizers of Sunday’s protests say more demonstrations will follow unless authorities show concrete results.
“The people are watching,” said Trinidad, the student activist. “If they think we will just get tired, they are mistaken.”
Conclusion
The corruption scandal has become a national stress test for both institutions and leadership in the Philippines. While violence erupted on the fringes, the overwhelming majority of citizens demonstrated peacefully, underscoring their demand for accountability through democratic means.
The challenge now lies with the government to match rhetoric with results, punishing corruption at the highest levels and ensuring that the billions meant for public safety are spent where they are needed most.
For a country living under the constant threat of floods, the stakes could not be higher.
