Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the Philippine capital on Sunday demanding accountability in a massive multi-billion-dollar infrastructure scandal that has implicated officials, lawmakers, and construction firm owners.
Public anger has been mounting over so-called ghost flood-control projects, a controversy that has intensified as towns across the archipelago of 116 million have been devastated by typhoon-driven floods.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has seen allies and rivals alike including a congressman cousin swept up in the scandal since he highlighted the issue in a July national address.
Protesters marched along EDSA, the historic avenue of the 1986 People Power Movement that ousted Marcos’s father, chanting “Put them in jail now!” Demonstrators in Luneta Park, near the presidential palace, carried crocodile-shaped signs symbolizing corruption.
“There are people who died because of the corruption that is happening,” said Jessie Wanaluvmi J, a 20-year-old drag performer scheduled to appear at the rally.
Authorities recently announced the first arrests eight members of the Department of Public Works and Highways and promised that “big fish are coming soon.” But critics remain unconvinced. Mervin Toquero of the National Council of Churches said: “It’s impossible that corruption happened without the knowledge of higher officials. They must be accountable too.”
Protester Azon Tobiano, 68, who attended with her granddaughter, said: “I really hope justice will be served. I hope the president will be resolute to put in jail those accountable, whether it’s his relatives or senators.”
The Philippines has a long history of corruption scandals in which high-ranking politicians often evade serious punishment. On Sunday, more than 17,000 police officers were deployed for crowd control.
In September, largely peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations turned violent, with clashes between police and masked protesters leading to over 200 arrests.
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