September 21, 2025

A sea of angry protesters poured into the streets of Manila on Sunday, September 21, 2025, boiling with fury over a corruption scandal that has shocked the Philippines. Thousands marched toward the EDSA People Power Monument, waving flags and holding banners that screamed “No more, too much, jail them.” Why? Because lawmakers, officials, and businesspeople are accused of pocketing huge kickbacks from flood-control projects aimed at protecting the country’s poor and storm-hit areas. Police and troops stood guard, ready to stop any violence, with thousands of officers securing protests around a historic park and a democracy monument on the main EDSA highway. The protests aimed to be one of the biggest anti-corruption gatherings in recent years. Meanwhile, the US and Australian embassies warned their citizens to steer clear for safety. Among the crowd was student activist Althea Trinidad from flood-prone Bulacan. She told The Associated Press, “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 that pay for their luxury cars, foreign trips and bigger corporate transactions.” Her message was clear: “We want to shift to a system where people will no longer be abused.” The Catholic Church also spoke up. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David urged peaceful protests stating, “Our purpose is not to destabilise but to strengthen our democracy.” The scandal exploded after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shone a harsh spotlight on it in his July speech. He called the corruption in thousands of flood-control projects “horrible” and formed a commission to investigate nearly 9,855 projects worth over 545 billion pesos ($9.5 billion). His public works secretary resigned amid the chaos. What really rocked the public was when a rich couple, Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, who run several construction companies winning these big contracts, flaunted a dazzling collection of European and American luxury cars—one British car alone cost 42 million pesos ($737,000) and hilariously came with a free umbrella! Under heavy public pressure, they named at least 17 lawmakers and officials allegedly forced them to pay huge bribes in a dramatic Senate hearing. The scandal’s shockwaves caused Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to resign. Many legislators now face investigations, as do several government engineers, some dismissed and others under scrutiny, with bank accounts and assets frozen. The protesters made it clear: they want honest leaders, not power plays. Their demand? Transparency and punishment for those stealing millions meant to protect the poor from floods. The drama continues, but for now, the people’s roar echoes loud in Manila’s streets: corruption must end!

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Tags: Philippines, Corruption scandal, Flood-control projects, Protests, Lawmakers, Government accountability,