Over 200 Arrested in Philippines Anti-Corruption Protests

Over 200 Arrested in Philippines Anti-Corruption Protests
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More than 200 people were arrested following anti-corruption protests in Manila that turned violent. According to a report from Al Jazeera, thousands of people gathered to protest a corruption scandal involving “ghost flood control projects” that have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

The Philippine Department of Finance estimates the losses at up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) between 2023 and 2025. While most of the demonstrations were peaceful, a segment of the protest led to clashes with the police.

Regional police reported that at least 200 people were arrested, and 131 officers were wounded. Protesters allegedly threw stones, set motorcycles on fire, and vandalized property. In response, schools were closed and a curfew was imposed for minors. The protests were sparked after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. uncovered the anomalies in the infrastructure project in July.