On September 4, 2025, a series of widespread demonstrations began in the Philippines, with the largest initial protests occurring on September 11 at Rizal Park and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, and at the People Power Monument, Camp Aguinaldo Gate 4, and EDSA Shrine along EDSA in Quezon City, both within Metro Manila. They involve several anti-corruption protests stemming from the ongoing flood control projects controversy that largely involved the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the legislative branch of the Philippine government. According to reports, the demonstrations focus on allegations of massive irregularities in flood control programmes, with some ₱1.9 trillion (US$33 billion) spent over the past 15 years, more than half of which was allegedly lost to corruption. Several cities and municipalities across different provinces also held local demonstrations.
The September 11 protest in Rizal Park ("Baha sa Luneta") was organised by various sectoral groups, including activists and students, while the simultaneous protest at the People Power Monument and EDSA Shrine is known as the "Trillion Peso March", organised mainly by church groups, civil society organisations, student organisations, labour unions, and political coalitions. Although protests were characterised as peaceful throughout the country, an isolated riot by masked demonstrators occurred along streets near Malacañang Palace in Manila, injuring several protestors, bystanders, and policemen, and resulting in two casualties: one from a stabbing attack, and another from a stray bullet.
Protests have continued as of February 2026. The "Trillion Peso March Part 2" and a "Baha Sa Luneta 2" were held on November 30, 2025, while a third reiteration of the aforementioned protests was conducted on February 25, 2026, timed with the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
Inter-religious leaders have also announced the formation of White Ribbon Movement (WRM) which will lead an anti-corruption rally on June 28, 2026 at the EDSA People Power Monument.
Background
Since 2024, a series of allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and irregularities in government-funded flood management projects have been occurring in the Philippines under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos. The controversy centres on billions of pesos allocated for flood management initiatives, reports of "ghost" projects, substandard construction, and the alleged cornering of contracts by a small group of favoured contractors.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2025, President Marcos reported that his administration had implemented over 5,500 flood control projects and announced plans for at least ten large-scale projects amounting to more than ₱500 billion (US$10.15 billion) over the next 13 years. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) justified these projects as urgent measures to mitigate flooding, particularly in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, but admitted that poor waste management practices were aggravating the flooding problem. Marcos later vetoed ₱16.7 billion (US$339.09 million) worth of flood control projects included in the 2025 national budget, citing redundancy and improper project placement.
On September 1, 2025, Sarah Discaya attended a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and revealed that her nine construction firms have sometimes been involved in bidding for the same government flood control projects simultaneously. Initially, Discaya denied the allegation, but Senate President pro tempore and committee vice-chairperson Jinggoy Estrada pressed for data from the DPWH, to which Discaya admitted.
Timeline of events
September 11 protests
Calls for the September 11 demonstrations were first announced by church leaders and civil society groups in early September 2025. Organisers made use of social media platforms and networks of parishes, universities, and labour unions to circulate information and mobilise participants. Practical guidelines for attendees were also shared online, advising protestors to bring water, snacks, umbrellas, and power banks while avoiding items that could be misconstrued as weapons.
Baha sa Luneta
The main programme began at 9:00 a.m. at Rizal Park (Luneta) in Manila, dubbed as "Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon na Laban sa Korapsyon" ('Flood at Luneta: Action Against Corruption') or the "Billion People March". Around the morning, large numbers of protestors began to converge, and 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. It was followed by a march to the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, dubbed as "Save the Philippines", and parallel rallies were held in Baguio, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and Negros, with overseas Filipino communities staging solidarity actions.
Trillion Peso March
Occurring simultaneously, the Trillion Peso March was centred at the People Power Monument and EDSA Shrine in Quezon City. Comedian and television host Vice Ganda addressed the rally, urging President Marcos to take action against government officials accused of corruption and expressing support for reinstating the death penalty for those involved in questionable flood control projects. Other public figures, including Ogie Alcasid, Iza Calzado, Anne Curtis, and Catriona Gray, were also present. Former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson also attended but was booed by protestors who called him a "plunderer".
The protest at the People Power Monument saw the band Ben&Ben perform their single "Kapangyarihan" ('Power'). In the afternoon, protests at the monument and White Plains Avenue spilled over onto EDSA, leading to the closure of all northbound lanes. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority redirected traffic towards Ortigas Avenue, and the Department of Transportation temporarily opened the EDSA Busway to all vehicles. The northbound lanes were reopened around 6:00 p.m.
Mendiola clashes and vandalism
In the afternoon of September 11, masked youth groups numbering roughly 400 joined the Baha sa Luneta protest. Some moved toward Ayala Bridge and later Mendiola, where confrontations escalated around 5:30 p.m. Police reported that demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles, and improvised incendiary devices, including Molotov cocktails, while attempting to breach police barricades.
A trailer truck and several motorcycles, including some belonging to the PNP, were set on fire by demonstrators. The PNP accused rioters of stealing firearms from officers. A branch of Hotel Sogo along Recto Avenue was also ransacked. By late evening, police announced that at least 72 individuals had been arrested in Manila due to violent acts, and at least 39 to 40 police officers were injured. Authorities emphasised that the majority of participants in Luneta remained peaceful.
Digital activism
During the September 21 demonstrations, virtual rallies on online game platforms such as Roblox were organised by Filipino users. Additionally, the websites of 19 government agencies were defaced by hackers in protest against state corruption. Many Pinoy pop and OPM artists expressed support through social media, including SB19, Bini, G22, Kaia, and Katseye member Sofia Laforteza.
October to November 2025 protests
The Trillion Peso March Movement was launched on October 1, 2025, with another protest planned for November 30, 2025, coinciding with Bonifacio Day. Weekly protests were planned in the lead up to the November 30 demonstrations, with the first of these weekly protests held on October 21, 2025, at the EDSA Shrine.
February 2026 protests
Third major reiterations of the Baha sa Luneta and Trillion Peso March were conducted on February 25, 2026, explicitly timed with the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
Groups involved and demands
Civil society
On September 11, 2025, Baha sa Luneta was convened by various student networks and activist coalitions such as Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance/TAMA NA (a broad anti-corruption alliance), Panatang Luntian Coalition (youth environmentalists), and student councils from various universities. Many groups that co-organized the Baha sa Luneta later formed the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK)
The Church Leaders Council for National Transformation led the Trillion Peso March, along with Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian (SIKLAB), Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM), and Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA). Organisers 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.
Protest organisers at the Baha sa Luneta and Trillion Peso March protests listed several demands, including:
- 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 public release of government officials' Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), along with the lifting of bank secrecy restrictions
- the enactment of stronger anti-corruption measures, including granting subpoena and contempt powers to independent investigative bodies
- the inclusion of representatives from civil society, people's organisations, and anti-corruption groups in the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)
- the granting of contempt powers to the ICI to compel the participation of government officials in its investigation
- the recovery of stolen public funds and their reallocation toward health, education, housing, and compensation for flood victims.
On November 16, 2025, the Roundtable for Inclusive Development (RFID)—composed of lawyers, businessmen, church and education leaders, and former public officials—called for transparency following recent calamities exacerbated by the alleged misuse of public funds. They called for an Independent People's Commission, a ban on political dynasties, budget transparency, a Freedom of Information Act, and a comprehensive review of the party-list system.
Left-leaning parties and coalitions
Progressive parties including Laban ng Masa (including Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), and Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK)) and national democratic parties affiliated with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and Makabayan participated at Baha sa Luneta. BAYAN also led protest actions in regions across the Philippines and by OFWs globally, including in Utrecht.
The broad goals of the progressive and national-democratic organisations include the resignation of both President Marcos and Vice President Duterte and the formation of a civilian-led People's Transition Council (PTC). The PLM posited that the PTC should hold corrupt officials accountable, establish safeguards against corruption, and hold fair elections, but without running in the elections themselves.
Groups such as 1Sambayan, Liberal Party of the Philippines, and Akbayan Partylist joined the Trillion Peso March.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David distanced himself from Baha sa Luneta 2.0 due to its demands for Marcos and Duterte to resign, drawing pushback from protest organisers who warned his statement might negatively impact the opposition's unity leading into the 2028 Philippine presidential election.
Communists
Far-left groups affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, such as Kabataang Makabayan, also organised protests.
Diehard Duterte supporters
On September 21, 2025, Duterte supporters gathered near Gate 4 of Camp Aguinaldo at 7:00 a.m. and had a brief scuffle with other protestors attending the Trillion Peso March. They called for President Marcos's resignation in addition to their pronouncements against corruption. A Catholic nun was ganged up on by Duterte supporters at Liwasang Bonifacio after stating Marcos was "only a victim of dark forces".
In Davao City, pro-Duterte groups roasted 100 cows as an "offering to the heavens" against corruption in a prayer rally organised by Vice President Duterte. The sacrificial slaughtering was condemned by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society. It was observed that Duterte loyalists shared the calls for the resignation of Marcos, but drew the line at removing Vice President Duterte.
Pro-Marcos counterprotesters
Supporters of President Marcos launched counterprotests in response to the demonstrations against the administration. Groups such as the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement called for accountability for everyone involved in the flood control projects scandal.
Iglesia ni Cristo
The Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy is a protest led by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) which began on November 16, 2025. Around 650,000 people gathered according to the Manila Police District. While open to non-members, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said the rally was not meant to "interfere in politics" but to demand accountability for the flood control projects scandal.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta, an INC member, spoke at the rally. Senator Imee Marcos was in attendance and alleged that her brother, President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and their children used drugs. Zabala later clarified that Senator Imee Marcos's speech was outside the protest's scope of calling for transparency.
Government response
The Philippine National Police (PNP) placed Metro Manila under full alert in the week leading up to the September 11 rallies, suspending leave for officers and preparing road closures near Rizal Park and EDSA. Authorities stated that no specific security threats had been identified as of mid-September 2025.