MANILA, Philippines. Thousands of Filipinos demonstrated on Sunday in an anti-corruption rally that brought both unity and discontent, as some public figures attending were booed by parts of the crowd. The protest, sparked by allegations of massive kickbacks in flood-control projects, saw more than 33,000 peaceful participants, while a smaller group broke away into violent clashes with the police near the presidential palace.
At the “Trillion Peso March,” held at multiple locations including the EDSA Shrine and the People Power Monument, celebrities and politicians showed up in solidarity. However, among them, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson was booed by protesters near Corinthian Gardens during the march along EDSA.
Celebrities such as Vice Ganda, Angel Aquino, Jodi Sta. Maria, Catriona Gray, and others also participated to lend voice to the outrage. Vice Ganda shouted strong words against corrupt officials, saying, “They’re animals.” “Father, forgive me, but f**k them. I know the mass has just ended, but Lord, forgive me because this is true. This is the language of all Filipinos whose money was stolen,” he said. He even called for the restoration of the death penalty for corrupt government officials.
Meanwhile, a faction of the protest turned violent near the presidential palace, where 49 people were arrested for throwing rocks, bottles, and fire bombs at officers, blocking roads and bridges. About 70 officers were injured. Police deployed tear gas to disperse the assailants, who vandalised property, including ransacking a budget inn, spraying graffiti, toppling posts and shattering glass. Schools in the vicinity were closed due to the disturbances.
Activists condemned what they described as misappropriation of public funds. Althea Trinidad, a student from Bulacan, said, “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 trip,s and bigger corporate transactions.” Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David called on citizens to act peacefully, stating, “Our purpose is not to destabilize but to strengthen our democracy.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has responded by establishing an independent commission to investigate anomalies in roughly 9,855 flood-control projects believed to involve over 545 billion pesos since mid-2022. Several contracts awarded to construction companies are now under scrutiny.
The booing of Chavit Singson reflects a deeper frustration among protesters not only with corruption but with the presence of figures viewed with distrust. Some attendees welcomed high-profile participants while others expressed that those seen as part of traditional power structures should not expect support without accountability.
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar is a tenured associate professor at National University (NU) Manila and a steering committee member of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He has contributed to NU's community extension initiatives that introduced the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities within a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with Master of Development Communication (MDC) and Doctor of Communication (DComm) degrees from the University of the Philippines (UP) Open University in Los Baños and was awarded with a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) SIKAP grant. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Adamson News and his high school publication Ang Ugat.
- DC Alviar
- DC Alviar
- DC Alviar
- DC Alviar
