Around 13,000 people gathered this morning at Luneta Park in Manila, protesting a major corruption scandal involving so-called “phantom” flood defense infrastructure projects that reportedly cost taxpayers nearly €2 billion, according to Reuters.
The projects, at the center of one of the largest corruption scandals in decades in the Philippines, have already led to the resignation of the Senate and House of Representatives officials, including relatives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
President Marcos Jr. urged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
Teddy Casino, president of the Bagong Aljansang Makabayan, a coalition of leftist groups, demanded the return of misappropriated funds and jail sentences for those responsible.
“People are taking to the streets to express their anger, hoping to pressure the government to actually do its job,” Casino said.
The protest follows widespread public outrage after deadly floods struck the archipelago in recent weeks. Earlier this month, owners of a construction company accused nearly 30 lawmakers and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of receiving cash kickbacks.
Financial losses linked to the scandal are estimated at ₱118.5 billion (€1.75 billion) between 2023 and 2025, according to the Philippine Department of Finance, while Greenpeace estimates the figure could be as high as €15.3 billion.
Additional demonstrations are expected later in the day along avenues historically associated with protests, including those that contributed to the 1986 ousting of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
