Protests planned across Philippines over flood graft claims

MANILA – Rallies are set to take place across the Philippines on Sept 21 in protest against what organisers say is widespread corruption in the government.

The demonstrations may potentially be the largest since reports in July of extensive corruption involving flood-control projects in one of the world’s most typhoon-hit countries. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said at the time that many of the projects were sources of kickbacks.

Mr Marcos’ statement set in motion a government crackdown, and

the President has created an independent body

to determine how much was allegedly stolen from state coffers for flood-control projects.

Earlier in September, he said there was no need to include the projects in the 2026 budget.

Hundreds of bank accounts tied to the programmes have been frozen, and

Mr Marcos’ cousin has stepped down

as Speaker of the House of Representatives amid allegations that he may have been connected to the graft-ridden projects. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Around 30,000 people are set to join a protest near the main highway, local media reported, citing its organiser. Various groups are also expected to converge on a public park in Manila and other parts of the South-east Asian nation.

The police have deployed more than 50,000 officers across the country to secure the rallies, with all personnel on full alert from Sept 20.

The corruption allegations and the ensuing public uproar have not moved Philippine financial markets, which could change if the unrest intensifies or threatens the government. The peso has been largely steady against the US dollar in September while Manila’s key stock index is up almost 2 per cent.

The protests come at a time of growing unrest across the region.

Demonstrations in Indonesia over perks for politicians quickly turned violent

after the death of a 21-year-old delivery driver in Jakarta

who was run over by a police vehicle in August.

Nepal was hit by deadly protests last week, led mainly by teenagers and young adults, which

forced the country’s top leadership to resign.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has called on the public to join the demonstrations, while stressing that the rule of law must prevail.

“Our purpose is not to destabilise, but to strengthen our democracy,” it said in a statement on Sept 20.

The US embassy in Manila warned its citizens to avoid the demonstrations on Sept 21 “due to the potential for violence”. BLOOMBERG