In the Philippines, thousands of demonstrators, including members of the Roman Catholic Church, took to the streets on Sunday to demand the swift prosecution of officials implicated in a widespread corruption scandal. Protesters, also led by left-wing groups, called for the immediate resignation and prosecution of all implicated government officials, spurred by outrage over substandard flood control projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been working to quell public unrest while authorities have frozen assets and arrested several public works officers in connection to the case. Despite isolated calls, the Armed Forces of the Philippines rejected military intervention, while protesters demanded that officials be jailed and forced to return stolen funds.
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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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Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte publicly threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed should she be assassinated. This threat, deemed a national security issue, prompted an immediate increase in the President’s security detail and an investigation into the Vice President’s actions. The threat followed a bitter political falling-out between the two leaders, fueled by accusations of corruption and political persecution. Duterte’s statement, made during a news conference, allegedly involved pre-arranged plans for retribution, potentially constituting a criminal offense under Philippine law.
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John Q. Hosedrinker