Thousands Rally Against Corruption in the Philippines
Manila, Philippines witnessed massive anti-corruption protests on Sunday, November 30, 2025, as thousands, including Roman Catholic clergy, took to the streets. Demonstrators vehemently called for the immediate prosecution of top legislators and officials embroiled in a widespread corruption scandal. The protests, organized by various groups, including left-wing factions, centered on demands for implicated government figures to resign and face justice.
Public Outcry Over Flood Control Project Scandal
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is facing immense public backlash over what's been described as a colossal corruption scheme. This scandal involves substandard, defective, or even non-existent flood control projects across the typhoon-prone archipelago, exacerbating the risks of deadly flooding. Authorities deployed over 17,000 police officers across metropolitan Manila, with the Malacañang presidential palace on high alert, access roads blocked by anti-riot forces and barbed wire.
Military Rejects Calls for Unconstitutional Intervention
In a nation with a history of presidential overthrows due to allegations of plunder, isolated calls for the military to withdraw support from the Marcos administration have emerged. However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) firmly rejected these suggestions. A statement signed by 88 mostly retired generals, including three former chiefs of staff, condemned any call for unconstitutional actions, reaffirming the AFP's role as a pillar of stability and a guardian of democracy.
Churches Join Demands for Justice and Fund Recovery
Roman Catholic churches nationwide played a significant role, leading anti-corruption rallies in their respective districts. The main demonstration unfolded at the iconic "people power" monument along the EDSA highway in the capital, attracting approximately 5,000 participants, many clad in white. Protesters demanded the imprisonment of members of Congress, officials, and construction company owners responsible for thousands of anomalous flood control projects. They also insisted on the return of stolen government funds.
Father Flavie Villanueva, a Catholic priest known for assisting families affected by former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdowns, passionately addressed the crowd. "If money is stolen, that's a crime, but if dignity and lives are taken away, these are sins against fellow human beings, against the country but, most importantly, against God," he declared, urging, "Jail all the corrupt and jail all the killers."
Progress in Investigations and Fund Recovery
Since President Marcos first highlighted these anomalies in July, at least seven public works officers have been jailed on graft charges related to a single flood control project. Investigations are ongoing, with executives from construction firm Sunwest Corp. being sought. Significant progress has been made in recovering stolen funds, with former government engineer Henry Alcantara returning 110 million pesos ($1.9 million) and promising more. Furthermore, authorities have frozen approximately 12 billion pesos ($206 million) worth of assets belonging to suspects. Marcos has vowed that many of the 37 implicated senators, members of Congress, and wealthy construction executives would face imprisonment by Christmas, a promise protestors are keen to see fulfilled, demanding quicker action and the recovery of funds allegedly used for lavish lifestyles.