The Trillion Peso March[4] was a series of mass demonstrations in the Philippines held on September 21, 2025. Organized by church groups, civil society organizations, student organizations, labor unions, and political coalitions, the protests respond to alleged corruption in government flood control infrastructure projects.[5][6] According to reports, the demonstrations focuses on allegations of massive irregularities in flood control programs, with some ₱1.9 trillion (US$33 billion) spent over the past 15 years, more than half of which was allegedly lost to corruption.[7]
Reports of anomalies in flood control projects, including incomplete or substandard work and alleged ghost projects, prompted widespread criticism of the government.[6] Public discontent grew amid calls for transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending.
The date of the rally, September 21, coincides with the anniversary of the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972, a symbolic choice for groups emphasizing democratic rights and government accountability.[8]
Organizers
More than 200 organizations expressed support for the rally, including church groups, student organizations, and labor unions.[5] Political coalitions such as 1Sambayan and Akbayan joined the mobilization, along with the Church Leaders Council for National Transformation.[9] Organizers stressed that the protests were not intended to call for the removal of any specific political leader but instead aimed at institutional reforms and accountability.[6]
Event
Calls for the September 21 demonstrations were first announced by church leaders and civil society groups in early September 2025, who described the protests as a "Trillion Peso March" to highlight alleged anomalies in flood control projects.[5][9] Organizers made use of social media platforms and networks of parishes, universities, and labor unions to circulate information and mobilize participants. Practical guidelines for attendees were also shared online, advising protesters to bring water, snacks, umbrellas, and power banks while avoiding items that could be misconstrued as weapons.[7]
Comedian and television host Vice Ganda addressed the rally at the People Power Monument, where Ganda urged President Bongbong Marcos to take action against government officials accused of corruption and expressed support for reinstating the death penalty for those allegedly involved in questionable flood control projects. Other public figures, including Ogie Alcasid, Iza Calzado, Anne Curtis, and Catriona Gray, were also present at the event.[14] Former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson also attended, but was booed by protesters who called him a "plunderer".[15] The protest at the People Power Monument also saw the band Ben&Ben perform their single "Kapangyarihan" (lit.'Power'), a song about accountability.[16]
Some Pinoy pop artists did not participate in the rally but expressed support through social media. SB19 members Josh Cullen and Pablo Nase posted a video themselves singing a portion of Ben&Ben's song "Kapangyarihan". The girl groupBini released a statement on X with individuals members also posting on their own accounts. Other groups such as G22 and Kaia referenced their song "Tanga" (transl.Fool). Filipino singer-songwriter Maki posted in solidarity on the same day, while Katseye member Sofia Laforteza shared on Instagram her call for "a future built on truth, integrity, and hope".[17]
Demands
Protest organizers listed several demands, including:[5][9]
the arrest of individuals implicated in the alleged anomalous flood control projects
the recovery of alleged ill-gotten wealth, including luxury goods and vehicles
The Philippine National Police (PNP) placed Metro Manila under full alert in the week leading up to the rallies, suspending leave for officers and preparing road closures near Rizal Park, EDSA, and other strategic sites.[18] Authorities stated that no specific security threats had been identified as of mid-September 2025.[19]
President Bongbong Marcos expressed support for the protests, saying he "might be out in the streets" as well if he "were not president". He added that he shared the public's frustration and encouraged people to demand accountability, while urging them to maintain peaceful demonstrations.[6]
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon stated that he fully supports the September 21 anti-corruption demonstrations while noting that protesters should not resort to violence.[20]Malacañang Palace Press Officer Claire Castro warned that certain actors "may try to exploit this legitimate cause for their own personal interests and to undermine the government."[21]
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr. responded to calls for the military to withdraw support from President Marcos by issuing a joint statement affirming the armed forces' non-partisanship and professionalism. They emphasized that the 160,000-member institution follows the Constitution and operates under the chain of command. Their statement came after a rally speaker urged the military to end its loyalty to Marcos and called for a non-violent "people power" movement similar to the People Power Revolution in 1986 and the Second EDSA Revolution in 2001.[6]
Timeline
Around the morning of September 21, large numbers of protesters began to converge at Luneta Park, Manila. By mid-day, estimates placed the crowd at about 50,000 people. Demonstrators carried banners and chanted anti-corruption slogans, calling for transparency and accountability from government officials.[22]
In the afternoon, masked youth groups numbering roughly 400 joined the Baha sa Luneta protest. Some of them moved toward Ayala Bridge and later Mendiola, where confrontations escalated. Police reported that demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles, and Molotov cocktails while attempting to breach police barricades. The violence left several officers injured and forced authorities to disperse the crowd.[23] A trailer truck and several motorcycles, including some belonging to the PNP, were set on fire by demonstrators. A demonstrator was seen waving a Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger flag from the manga series One Piece. The PNP accused rioters of stealing firearms from police officers.[24]
By late afternoon into the evening, police announced that at least 72 individuals had been arrested in Manila due to violent acts during the demonstrations. These arrests were concentrated in areas near Mendiola and Ayala Bridge. Authorities emphasized that the majority of participants in Luneta remained peaceful, but smaller groups engaged in disruptive activities that prompted police action.[25] Around the same period, reports noted that about 40 police officers were injured in the confrontations with protesters. The incidents highlighted the intensity of clashes between authorities and small, more aggressive factions within the wider rally. Officials reiterated that while the larger protest was largely orderly, the violence in Mendiola overshadowed the peaceful demonstrations at Luneta.[26]
In the afternoon, the protests at the People Power Monument and White Plains Avenue spilled over onto EDSA, leading to the closure of all northbound lanes including the service road. In response, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority redirected all Ortigas Interchange service road traffic towards Ortigas Avenue while the Department of Transportation temporarily opened the EDSA Busway to all types of vehicles coming from the northbound flyover to Santolan.[27][28] The northbound lanes of EDSA were made open to traffic again around 6p.m. PST.[29]
At around 5:30p.m., violent clashes erupted in Manila during the anti-corruption demonstrations. Police reported that protesters in Mendiola threw improvised incendiary devices, including Molotov cocktails, which injured at least 39 officers.[30] Alongside these confrontations, media also reported scattered incidents of property damage such as burning tires and barricades during confrontations between security forces and demonstrators.[22] A branch of Hotel Sogo along Recto Avenue was ransacked by protesters.[31]
Virtual rallies on online game platforms such as Roblox have also been organized by Filipino users.[32] The websites of 19 government agencies were defaced by hackers during the protests.[33]
Aftermath
At least 216 people, including 89 minors as young as 12 years old, were arrested following the riots in Manila.[34][35] Around 205 people, including 76 civilians and 129 police personnel, were injured. The PNP blamed an unidentified rapper for influencing the rioters.[36] A bystander, Eric Saber was killed when a stray bullet hit his neck from behind;[37] another unidentified person was also killed in a stabbing during the riot, while 48 others were injured and sent to the José R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.[38] On September 22, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it had received information about a bombing plot targeting the rallies at either the People Power Monument or Luneta.[39]
Pro-Duterte groups such as Hakbang ng Maisug denied involvement in the riots.[24] The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, whose leader, Renato Reyes, had been injured during the clashes, said it and other left-wing groups had nothing to do with the rioters.[40] On September 22, protests were held at Camp Crame denouncing the arrest of protesters and alleged police brutality during the previous day's rallies.[41]
A day after the protests, the shares of the PSE Composite Index (PSEi) slumped on September 22, 2025 as investor confidence dampened amidst the impact of the flood control scandal, as well as other factors such as cautious reactions prior to the speeches set to be made by the US Federal Reserve at the 134th Annual Kentucky Bankers Association Convention and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 2025 Economic Outlook, and profit taking measures due to previous gains in the market. The PSEi finished trading lower by 0.79 percent to 6,214.83 while the broader PSE All Shares Index ended lower by 0.31 percent to 3,729.29.[42][43]
See also
Baha sa Luneta – another major protest held on the same day
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