On 21 September 2025, thousands of Filipinos poured into the streets of Manila and other cities to protest alleged large-scale corruption tied to government flood‐control infrastructure projects.
The protests were symbolically scheduled on the anniversary of the 1972 martial law declaration by Ferdinand Marcos Sr., underscoring demands for transparency, accountability and institutional reform.
Rallies were held at major sites like Rizal Park and the EDSA Shrine, involving students, church groups, youth activists, and ordinary citizens. Some parts of the protest turned tense, with clashes between a small group of protestors and police resulting in arrests and injuries.
The protest’s scale reflects deep frustration over alleged mis-use of billions of pesos in flood-related projects — projects intended to protect the country from storms, but which protesters say benefitted elites instead.
Why it matters:
- The movement signals a growing public willingness to challenge entrenched political and infrastructural corruption at a national level.
- It puts pressure on the current administration of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to deliver swift accountability or risk loss of public confidence.
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