Arrest Tally Rises After Anti-Corruption Protest Clashes in the Philippines

Police in Manila, the Philippine capital, detained over 200 individuals during clashes with masked protesters on Sunday, which erupted amid what was largely intended as peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations, a police spokesperson confirmed on Monday.

Among those arrested, at least 88 were minors, forming part of an initial total of 216 people taken into custody as law enforcement deployed water cannons and deafening sirens to disperse mostly young, rock-throwing protesters.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno reported that the youngest detainee was a 12-year-old boy.

Thousands of Filipinos gathered in Manila to protest against a growing scandal involving bogus flood-control projects, alleged to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

The scandal has implicated multiple lawmakers, resulting in the resignation of the leaders of both houses of Congress as investigations continue.

However, clashes in the streets, which involved police vehicles being set ablaze and windows of a precinct headquarters shattered, threatened to overshadow demonstrations attended by families, activists, clergy, and politicians.

Regional police spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo told AFP: “So far, none of them are saying the reasons behind their actions or if somebody paid them to do it. As soon as we know their affiliations, we can know if they were part of the protesters or if they were just causing trouble.”

Another police spokesperson, Major Philipp Ines, reported that 93 officers were injured during the clashes and noted that the arrest count may rise as processing of detainees continues.

According to the Department of Health, about 50 individuals were admitted to a single Manila hospital following the disturbances.

The public fury stems from the so-called “ghost infrastructure” projects, which President Ferdinand Marcos highlighted in his July State of the Nation Address after weeks of deadly flooding.

• The Department of Finance estimates the economy lost up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) between 2023 and 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects.
• Greenpeace suggests the true figure may be closer to $18 billion.

The Philippines faces a dual challenge, as Super Typhoon Ragasa was approaching the northernmost provinces on Monday, raising the risk of severe flooding.

• The country experiences an average of 20 storms and typhoons annually, leaving millions in disaster-prone regions vulnerable to chronic poverty.

This combination of systemic corruption and natural disasters has intensified public frustration, highlighting the persistent socio-economic vulnerabilities in the archipelago.

The situation underscores escalating tensions in Manila, where citizens are demanding accountability for government corruption while confronting the ever-present risks posed by natural disasters.