Major protests against corruption in the Philippines
20 hours ago
- #Philippines
- #Corruption
- #Protests
- Massive protests against corruption took place across the Philippines on September 21, drawing tens of thousands despite rain.
- Protests were sparked by revelations of corruption in flood control projects, involving kickbacks and theft by contractors and officials.
- The protests were the largest in two decades, with 100,000 in Manila and tens of thousands in other cities.
- 2025 saw severe flooding in the Philippines, with record rainfall and devastating typhoons causing deaths and widespread damage.
- Flooding and unaffordable rice prices historically trigger social unrest; past governments have used martial law to suppress such anger.
- Capitalism is blamed for the unplanned urban growth, lack of infrastructure, and social inequality that exacerbate flooding and misery.
- Political tensions between the Marcos and Duterte factions are intensifying amid corruption investigations and shifting alliances.
- Investigations revealed $2 billion in 'ghost projects' and kickbacks, leading to resignations and political realignments.
- Protests were organized by various coalitions, including Tama Na and Akbayan, with differing political alignments but shared anti-corruption focus.
- The anti-corruption movement risks being co-opted by bourgeois factions, while the root issue—capitalism—remains unaddressed.