SHAH ALAM – Tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets of the capital on Sunday to protest against a ballooning scandal involving alleged fraudulent flood-control projects that have cost taxpayers billions of pesos.
The demonstrations began peacefully in the morning at Luneta Park, where city officials estimated around 50,000 people gathered.
By the afternoon, thousands more converged on Epifanio de los Santos Ave (EDSA), a historic site synonymous with the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
But as night fell, tensions boiled over. Riot police clashed with groups of mostly young, masked individuals who hurled rocks and shattered the glass of a police outpost.
A trailer used as a barricade was set ablaze, and police responded with a water cannon. At least 72 people including 20 minors were arrested, while 39 officers were reported injured.
Police spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo told AFP it remained unclear whether those arrested were genuine protesters or “just people who are causing trouble.”
An AFP journalist at the scene also reported seeing officers throwing rocks back towards the crowd, though Asilo denied the claim.
Mounting anger
The scandal, dubbed the “ghost projects” controversy, has been brewing for months. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. first spotlighted it during his State of the Nation Address in July, following weeks of deadly flooding.
According to the Department of Finance, corruption linked to bogus flood-control projects drained an estimated 118.5 billion pesos (RM8.41 billion) from the economy between 2023 and 2025.
Environmental group Greenpeace Philippines claims the real figure could be as high as US$18 billion.
For many, the revelations were the last straw. “It’s very rare for me to go to rallies, but this situation was bad enough that I was really urged to say ‘this is enough’,” said Mitzi Bajet, a 30-year-old designer at the EDSA protest.
Others expressed frustration at the contrast between lavish lifestyles of officials and the struggles of ordinary citizens.
“They are draining the people’s money while citizens suffer from floods, their homes being swept away, while officials ride private planes, live in mansions,” said 58-year-old protester Manuel Dela Cerna, who also joined the People Power demonstrations four decades earlier.
Demands for accountability
Activists and civil society groups are calling for not just the recovery of funds, but also jail terms for those involved.
“Corruption requires people to go to the streets and express their outrage in the hope of pressuring government to actually do their jobs,” said Teddy Casiño, chairman of the left-wing alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
Renato Reyes, another protest organiser, said he was struck in the face by a rock near the presidential palace.
He suggested some agitators may have been provocateurs but added that the government cannot “ignore the problem of corruption.”
Meanwhile, anger has spread beyond the capital. Residents in flood-hit provinces north of Manila say the scandal has compounded their suffering.
“They should not have handed the money over before the job was completed. Both the politicians and the contractors are guilty,” said 81-year-old retiree Elizabeth Abanilla.
Political fallout
The allegations have already triggered turmoil in the political establishment. Earlier this month, the owners of a construction firm accused nearly 30 lawmakers and Public Works officials of receiving bribes.
Last week, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos, resigned amid mounting pressure as both houses of Congress opened investigations.
For Marcos, the scandal has become one of the most serious challenges of his presidency.
Although he has said he does not blame people for protesting “one bit,” he has also urged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
The military has been placed on red alert in anticipation of further rallies.