Philippine police have arrested more than 200 individuals after a largely peaceful day of anti-corruption demonstrations in Manila descended into clashes between masked protesters and officers.
According to a statement released by regional police on Monday, while the majority of Sunday’s rallies were peaceful, gatherings at Ayala Bridge and Mendiola became “very violent.” Authorities stated that “protesters turned mobs assaulted police officers with stones and anything they could get their hands on,” adding that the violence was “unprovoked.” The police report also accused the groups of setting motorcycles on fire and vandalizing and ransacking a business establishment.
The clashes resulted in injuries to at least 131 police officers, with some wounds described as “very serious.” All injured officers are currently receiving medical treatment. Among the 224 people detained, police confirmed that some were minors.
Heavy Police Presence and Ongoing Tensions
Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Lo, reporting from Manila, noted that while a sense of normalcy had returned to the streets by Monday morning, there was a “heavier police presence than usual.” He added that with schools closed and a curfew for minors imposed, the situation remains tense as investigations into alleged corruption in flood control projects continue. “More protests are expected, and at this point they could be unpredictable,” Lo stated.
The protests were sparked by a corruption scandal involving “ghost” flood control projects that allegedly cost taxpayers billions of dollars. While over 33,000 people gathered peacefully at a historic park and a democracy monument, a smaller group engaged in destructive acts, including spraying graffiti, toppling posts, and ransacking a budget inn lobby. Police stated they used tear gas to disperse this faction.
Motivations Unclear as Anger Mounts
Regional police spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo told AFP that none of those arrested had yet explained their reasoning or indicated if “somebody paid them to do it.” Police are investigating the affiliations of those detained to determine if they were genuine protesters or individuals intent on causing trouble.
The public anger in the Philippines has been building since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed the scandal during a July address. The sentiment was captured by student activist Althea Trinidad, who 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.”
According to the Department of Finance, corruption in flood control projects is estimated to have cost the Philippine economy up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) between 2023 and 2025. The protests in Manila echo recent demonstrations in other Asian nations, including Indonesia and Nepal, over government conduct and corruption.
Source: Based on reporting from Al Jazeera and news agency reports.
