Manila Protest Turns Violent Children Among Arrested
Manila Protests Over Ghost Projects Turn Violent; Dozens of Children Among Arrested
MANILA – At least 216 people were taken into custody in Manila on Sunday after protests over a massive corruption scandal turned violent. Authorities confirmed that 88 of those detained were minors, including a 12-year-old boy — the youngest in police custody.
The demonstrations erupted as thousands of Filipinos marched through the capital, demanding accountability over bogus flood-control projects that allegedly drained billions of pesos from public funds. The scandal has already forced the resignation of both congressional leaders and implicated multiple lawmakers.
What began as largely peaceful rallies involving families, activists, clergy, and politicians descended into chaos when groups of mostly young protesters began throwing rocks. Police responded with water cannons and piercing sirens. Several patrol vehicles were torched, and windows at a precinct headquarters were smashed.
“So far, none of them are saying the reasons behind their actions or if somebody paid them to do it,” said regional police spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo. She added that investigators were still trying to determine whether those arrested were genuine protesters or outside agitators.
According to the Department of Health, around 50 people were rushed to one Manila hospital following the clashes. Police reported 93 officers injured, while saying the number of arrests could still rise.
The scandal at the heart of the unrest has fueled growing public outrage. President Ferdinand Marcos highlighted the fraudulent projects in his July state of the nation address, linking them to the country’s worsening floods. 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. Environmental group Greenpeace claims the actual figure could be as high as $18 billion.
Meanwhile, the Philippines braced for more flooding Monday as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached the northern provinces. The country is struck by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, leaving millions of people in disaster-prone areas vulnerable to repeated loss and poverty.
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