MANILA, Nov. 17, 2025 — For several consecutive days, the Philippine capital has witnessed large-scale demonstrations, with hundreds of thousands gathering at sites like Rizal Park to protest corruption scandals in flood control projects. Protesters are demanding transparent investigations and accountability regarding these issues.

The protests were originally scheduled to last three days, from November 16 to 18. However, organizers announced on the evening of the 17th that they would end the demonstrations early, stating there was "no need to continue for three days." In a previous statement, the organizers clarified that the primary demands of the protests are a thorough investigation into the allegedly corrupt flood control projects and holding responsible officials, legislators, and contractors accountable.

According to statistics released on November 16 by the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, approximately 650,000 people participated in the protests. Philippine police stated on the 17th that about 16,000 officers were deployed to maintain order at the scenes.

In recent months, corruption within Philippine flood control projects has drawn widespread public attention. Thousands of infrastructure projects purportedly aimed at flood prevention have been exposed as either "ghost projects" or suffering from substandard construction. On September 21, large-scale protests erupted in Manila and other cities, involving approximately 100,000 participants. During those demonstrations, police arrested 216 individuals, and at least one person died. Since then, anti-corruption protests have been held weekly in Manila and other areas.

Following the recent large-scale demonstrations, some groups are planning another major anti-corruption protest scheduled for November 30, which they expect will attract over 100,000 participants.