Calls to end corruption, commotion in Mendiola, and other key moments in the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests
"Serbisyo sa tao, huwag gawing negosyo."
This was among the many protest chants Filipinos shouted at the anti-corruption demonstrations that happened in different parts of the country in response to the flood control scandal.
For weeks, the country has followed the flood control controversy after rains in July triggered massive flooding in the metro. This would uncover billions worth of projects lost to corruption in projects to mitigate floods.
On Sept. 21—the 53rd anniversary of martial law under Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—two major protests took place in Metro Manila: "Baha sa Luneta," at the Luneta Park, and the "Trillion Peso March" at the EDSA People Power Monument.
Despite the rain, groups and individuals called for accountability from government officials involved in the alleged anomalous flood projects and demanded the return of ill-gotten wealth.
How many people attended
According to the Manila Public Information Office, the number of protestors, most of whom wore black, at Luneta Park reached 49,000 at 10:45 a.m.
Meanwhile, Akbayan Partylist detailed that more than 3,000 people participated in the morning mobilization. As of 4 p.m., a crowd of 15,000 wearing white flocked to the QC anti-corruption rally, according to the Philippine National Police.
The Quezon City government and police department have yet to release a crowd estimate as of writing.
Messages from celebrities and key personalities
Many Filipino celebrities and public figures refused to stay on the sidelines and spoke out at the rallies themselves.
One celebrity who lent his voice is Elijah Canlas, who moved the crowd at EDSA with a strong message against corrupt officials.
"Lahat tayo kumakayod [at] nagtatrabaho nang disente, halos magbuwis-buhay para makapagbayad lang ng buwis. Tapos lahat ng pinaghihirapan natin, anong nangyayari? Binubulsa lang!" he declared.
"Tama na, sobra na, ikulong na! Lahat ng kasangkot dapat managot. Niloloko lang nila tayo, mga sinungaling sila. Ang gagaling pa umarte, mga best actor, 'di po ba? Ibalik niyo na lang kaya ang pera ng taong bayan, tama?" he continued.
Jodi Sta. Maria, on the other hand, gave a powerful speech at Rizal Park as she emphasized how this corruption issue cannot be forgiven.
"This is the very first time na sumali ako sa isang rally na katulad nito. Naniniwala ako na sa pagkakataong ito, it doesn't really matter kung anong sector ang kinabibilangan mo... ngayon, lahat tayo nandidito dahil tayong lahat ay mga Pilipino," she said.
She continued, "Bilang Pilipino, may karapatan tayong malaman ano ba ang nangyayari sa pera, ano ba ang nangyayari sa sitwasyon ng ating bayan. Para sa akin, importante na may managot. Hindi pwedeng wala eh kasi ilang beses na 'tong nangyari, ilang rebolusyon na ang pinagdaanan natin."
Joining Sta. Maria was Angel Aquino, who recalled joining past rallies while she was a student at the University of the Philippines - Baguio.
"Hanggang ngayon, parang mas malala pa ang nangyayari. Parang mas in-our-face nilang ginagawa 'yung pagnanakaw nila, 'yung paglulustay nila sa mga pera natin. Taxpayer din po ako, meron akong dalawang anak na tinataguyod, masakit para sa'kin na sa kanila napupunta ang pera natin," Aquino said.
ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima echoed the same rage at all the corruption that has been unearthed and criticized politicians who were not present at the rallies.
"Nasaan na nga ba yung ibang mambabatas? Bakit wala sila rito? Busy na ba sila kakaisip ng isang trilyong alibi para makalusot? Busy ba sila sa loyalty check at paghahanap kung saan itatago ang mga kickback? O baka nagpaplano na mag-abroad for good? Nasaan man kayo at ang mga ninakaw ninyo, tutugisin at pananagutin kayo ng taumbayan!" she said.
"Bulyawan natin sila: Ang kapal ng mukha ninyo! Ang kapal ng mukha ninyo! Ang kapal ng mukha ninyo! Mas makapal pa sa semento ng flood control projects ninyo!" she cried out.
Meanwhile, Comedian Vice Ganda also challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to jail officials involved in corruption.
"Hinahamon ka namin, Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Kung gusto mong magkaroon ng magandang legasiya ang pangalan mo. Ipakulong mo lahat ng magnanakaw," they said.
"Nakatingin kami sa'yo at inaasahan ka namin hindi dahil sa idol ka namin, kundi dahil sinesweldohan ka namin at inaasahan namin na tutuparin mo ang inuutos naming mga employer mo. Kami ang nagpapasahod sa inyo."
A mass in QC, commotion in Mendiola
During the anti-corruption rally, a mass was conducted at the EDSA Shrine with De Lima and senators Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, and Risa Hontiveros in attendance.
Elsewhere, celebrities Dingdong Dantes, Kim Atienza, Benjamin Alves, Jerald Napoles, and Kim Molina joined an anti-corruption run ealier in the day with other protesters in Makati wearing black t-shirts with the messages "End corruption now" and "I dream of a corrupt-free Philippines."
Aside from powerful and witty banners, some protesters decided to stray away from the usual placards and chose to express their anger through other forms.
One person was seen waving a flag showing a skull wearing a straw hat from the hit anime series One Piece. The flag was previously seen in anti-corruption demonstrations in other countries such as Nepal and Indonesia. For One Piece fans, the flag symbolizes Luffy's quest to liberate oppressed people and fight against the authoritarian government.
Meanwhile, near the Malacañang compound, a group of protestors threw rocks and bottles at police in two separate incidents, setting fire to the tires of a trailer used as a barricade near the Ayala Bridge.
Police advancing behind a wall of shields arrested 17 mostly young people in the first encounter, local authorities said.
Barely an hour later, a second clash saw police use water cannon on another group of masked protesters. An AFP journalist at the scene saw some police pick up rocks and throw them back at the demonstrators.
It was not immediately clear if those involved had any connection to the organised protests.
Other rallies
Similar peaceful protests calling for the end to large-scale corruption also took place in key cities, including Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Naga.
The Philippine STAR reported that around 5,000 people from 120 multisectoral groups paraded down Harrison Road and gathered at the People's Park in Baguio City.
Cebu City also saw 5,000 rallyists from 30 sectoral groups gathering at the Plaza Independencia to voice their grievances and call for government transparency, according to GMA News.
Meanwhile, in Davao, one of the major gatherings was the prayer rally in the city's Rizal Park. According to Vice President Sara Duterte's previous post, the gathering would hold prayers for the immediate release of former president Rodrigo Duterte from the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The Duterte patriarch was arrested by the tribunal for his alleged crimes against humanity in connection to his administration's war against drugs.
According to a News5 report, the prayer rally in Davao included free lechon for attendees and a cake shaped like a crocodile.
Billions lost
Hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption, which prompted the formation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that will specifically investigate irregularities in flood control projects in the last 10 years.
The scandal has already sparked leadership changes in both houses of Congress, with House speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos Jr., tendering his resignation earlier this week as an investigation got underway.
On Sept. 11, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon filed criminal complaints against officials of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and four private contractors linked to such anomalies.
The government has also frozen the bank accounts of the contractors and DPWH officials with alleged involvement in the issue. (with additional reports from AFP)
