Filipinos Unite Against Corruption: 'Justice for Flood Victims' Rallies Rock Manila

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In a bold display of civic activism, thousands of Filipinos, including Catholic clergy, took to the streets of Manila on Sunday to demand justice for victims of corruption in the country's flood control projects. The protests, led by left-wing groups, were a direct call to action for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to quell the public's outrage over the massive corruption scandal that has plagued the Asian democracy. A total of 17,000 police officers were deployed to secure the protests, with the Malacanang presidential palace complex in a security lockdown. The protests, which were held in several locations across the capital region, were marked by a sense of urgency and frustration among the demonstrators, who demanded that implicated government officials resign and face prosecution. In a show of solidarity, the Armed Forces of the Philippines issued a statement rejecting calls for the military to withdraw support from the Marcos administration. The statement, signed by 88 mostly retired generals, including three military chiefs of staff, reaffirmed the military's commitment to democracy and stability. The protests were led by Catholic churches across the country, with the main rally being held at a pro-democracy monument along EDSA highway. The demonstrators, mostly wearing white, demanded that members of Congress, officials, and construction company owners behind the anomalous flood control projects be imprisoned and ordered to return the government funds they stole. Rev. Flavie Villanueva, a Catholic priest, addressed the crowd, saying, '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.' Since President Marcos first raised alarm over the flood control anomalies in July, at least seven public works officers have been jailed for illegal use of public funds and other graft charges. In a significant development, Henry Alcantara, a former government engineer, returned 110 million pesos ($1.9 million) in kickbacks that justice officials said he stole. Authorities have frozen assets worth 12 billion pesos ($206 million) of suspects in flood control anomalies, with President Marcos vowing to put many of the implicated officials in jail by Christmas.