By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On Sunday, clashes occurred in Manila between police and anti-corruption protesters. Demonstrators were detained amid protests alleging mismanagement of flood control project funds. Public anger has grown on social media platforms like TikTok and X, with Filipinos criticizing lawmakers and construction companies accused of awarding contracts for non-existent projects. This unrest comes as an unusually intense monsoon season has disrupted daily life.
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Philippines anti-corruption protests turn violent, and it’s a complex situation unfolding right now.
It looks like the protests, sparked by widespread anger over embezzled funds, have taken a turn. The scale of corruption is staggering – over $9.5 billion, supposedly earmarked for flood-control projects, vanished. Adding fuel to the fire, a wealthy contractor’s daughter went online, seemingly mocking the public. This is, frankly, a powder keg. The irony isn’t lost that the son of a man considered one of the most corrupt leaders in history is now in the presidency, compounding the sense of betrayal. The situation is not new either. There have been protests in Nepal and Indonesia previously. There is also a lot of debate right now about the degree to which this is becoming something much larger, potentially an explosive situation, and the current conditions are being compared to previous instances of corruption and social unrest.
The violent aspects seem to be confined to specific areas, not originally part of the planned protest routes. These incidents, attributed to anarchists and opportunistic individuals, include reports of police retaliation, which might have been fatal. It’s essential to understand the context of the protests. They were planned weeks in advance, and the vast majority remained peaceful, with normal city activities such as the international pole vaulting event going on unaffected. The focus is on billions plundered from public funds, which has led to the unrest.
A key point is the involvement of the current President, Marcos Jr., who has exposed the corruption and turned the spotlight on his political rivals. This twist complicates things. The president has explicitly expressed support for the protests, which is why the police are exercising restraint, even with the more violent elements. Some apprehended rioters have even given news interviews. The situation is made more complicated by the presence of multiple different groups involved, each with slightly differing goals and aspirations for the future.
Several factors make this different from past incidents. One factor includes the fact that the president is not viewed as the problem, but instead the focus is on those in the legislature, and also the former administration. The Duterte administration is seen as the cause of the current problems, and there are a lot of calls to hold them accountable, as well as calls to not allow the current vice president to gain power. There are also some people with right-wing nationalist goals who are taking advantage of the situation.
It’s crucial to remember that corruption and violence are deeply intertwined, and the history of unrest and the country’s tumultuous political climate are important to understand. It is essential to note the political climate, and the history of a country that has previously been rocked by corruption. The current administration is not actively suppressing the protests with brutal force, which sets this apart from many previous situations. This adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.