PROTESTERS clashed with police as violence reared its ugly head in protest rallies held yesterday to denounce corruption in massive anomalous infrastructure contracts, especially in flood control projects.
The most violent confrontation happened near Malacanang, where protesters hurled rocks and water bottles that smashed into the barricade of policemen near the Ayala bridge before burning down a container van, a motorcycle and tires.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the arrest of all those involved in the violent protest actions near the Palace, which coincided with demonstrations against corruption in other parts of the country.
The President issued the directive after some supposed rallyists, mostly young people wearing black clothes and some even covering their faces with masks, tangled with cops.
Police used water cannon to stop the protesters and maintained their barricade to prevent the entry of the young protesters who tried to march to Malacanang at around 3 p.m.
Police said they are looking at the possibility that the group was composed of ‘provocateurs” to provoke and foment unrest.
Security was heightened around the Palace after violence broke out at Ayala Bridge and some of the protesters were arrested.
The PNP described the violence in Manila as isolated incidents and said the protest actions were generally peaceful.
“Our police units worked hard to keep everyone safe today,” said
acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez in a statement.
“While there were some isolated incidents, including a trailer truck set on fire at Ayala corner Romualdez by a few unruly protesters, most rallies went on peacefully because many participants cooperated with the authorities,” added Nartatez.
The PNP said 49 individuals — 36 adults and 13 minors — were arrested “for violent behavior, including stone-throwing and acts of arson.”
The mass protests in Quezon City, specifically at the Edsa Shrine and People Power Monument, were generally peaceful, a city official said.
Elmo San Diego, head of the QC government’s Department of Public Order and Safety, said protesters from the People Monument were dispersed of 7 p.m.
The QC Police District earlier said the permit of the protesters at the People Power Monument was valid until 6 p.m. only.
“The protests at the People Power Monument were peaceful and they (protesters) have begun dispersing,” said San Diego.
Quezon City Police District spokesperson Maj. Gen. Jennifer Ganaban said the mass protest at the People’s Power Monument at EDSA was peaceful as of 4:45 p.m.
CURFEW FOR MINORS
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso ordered Manila Police District chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad to strictly implement the curfew for minors in the city.
In his order, Moreno reiterated the provisions of Executive Order No. 2, series of 2025, which enforces a curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. for individuals aged 17 and below.
From the Ayala bridge, similar violence occurred at Mendiola, also in Manila, as black-clad protesters started throwing rocks and water bottles at a police barricade.
The protesters also tried to burn a backhoe left behind by the Maynilad Waters that was conducting improvement activities in Mendiola but the fire immediately died down. The Maynilad activity was suspended ahead of the rally.
Reports said some protesters also threw Molotov bombs at authorities, who retaliated by using water cannons and tear gas before running after the protesters to arrest them. At least 19 have been arrested.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla went to Mendiola and reminded the police to exercise maximum tolerance despite the violence.
“Ang utos ng Pangulo panatiliing mapayapa ang mga rallies, for police to exercise maximum tolerance pero huhulihin lahat ng manggugulo (The order of the President was to keep the rallies peaceful, for police to exercise maximum tolerance even while arresting those who are sowing chaos),” Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said, quoting a message from Remulla.
“We will protect the citizens’ right to peaceably assemble to redress their grievance but we will not tolerate instability and violence,” Remulla added in a separate message that was released by Gomez.
Remulla and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said charges would be filed against those involved in the violent demonstrations.
Castro, in several television interviews, said the President was in Metro Manila monitoring developments.
She also said that someone or some group may be behind the violent actions of the young people who supposedly broke off from the protesters who came from the rally against corruption that was held at Luneta Park and were marching towards the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
She said that personally she thinks that charges of sedition should be filed against the violent protesters, hinting they were pushing personal, if not the political agenda of some groups whom she did not name.
She said that it was obvious that the aim of the youth group was Malacanang.
Apart from the different law enforcement units, fire trucks and ambulances, armored personnel carriers or tanks had been deployed around the palace.
Moreno said the city’s Department of Public Services cleaned up Luneta Park and Liwasang Bonifacio after the rallyists left. He said the same was done on Ayala Bridge.
“Agad namang isinagawa ng Department of Public Services–Manila ang paglilinis upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga motorista at maibalik ang maayos na daloy ng trapiko sa lugar. Makikita rin na malinis na ang tulay matapos ang mabilis na aksyon ng mga kawani ng DPS (The Department of Public Services-Manila immediately cleaned up the area to ensure the safety of motorists and for the orderly flow of traffic. The bridge is already cleared of debris),” Moreno said.
61K PARTICIPANTS
The PNP said 61,605 people participated in the protests throughout the country — 33,720 in Metro Manila and 27,885 in other regions.
More than 50,000 police personnel were deployed across the country, including 29,300 in Metro Manila.
The PNP said 49 individuals were arrested “for violent behavior, including stone-throwing and acts of arson.”
“Their actions violated several laws, including the Public Assembly Act, as well as provisions on illegal assembly, resistance or disobedience to authority, direct assault, malicious mischief, and serious physical injuries,” the PNP said, referring to individuals involved in burning and stone-throwing incidents in Manila.
It said 70 policemen from the Manila Police District were injured “while responding to isolated incidents in Metro Manila.”
“Throughout the day, our officers exercised maximum tolerance to allow peaceful assembly, even as they remained firm against actions that threatened public safety,” the PNP said in the statement.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño thanked rally organizers and participants who cooperated and followed the rules.
“Our officers showed great courage today, and we truly appreciate their sacrifice and dedication in keeping everyone safe,” said Tuaño,
VIOLENCE CONDEMNED
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) condemned the violence that occurred during protest actions against corruption, which resulted in injuries to several individuals, including a radio journalist who was reporting about the event.
“This incident underscores the urgent need to prioritize the safety of journalists, who are vital in providing accurate and timely information to the public. … any attack on media workers, whether intentional or accidental, jeopardizes press freedom and the public’s right to be informed,” PTFOMS said in a statement.
It called for the importance of strengthening safety protocols to better protect journalists.
“Their safety is non-negotiable and critical for ensuring a free, fair, and transparent flow of information. We will continue to advocate for measures that safeguard those who risk their lives to keep the nation informed,” the statement read.
Radio DZBB reporter Manny Vargas was among those who were hit by projectiles during the violent protest action at the Ayala Bridge in Manila.
ARRESTS MADE
Wearing black shirts and pants, the masked group threw stones at cops and managed to push past the police barricade.
The police deployed water dispersal and a long-range acoustic device to drive the rioters back.
After several minutes, the police overpowered the group and arrested at least 10. Several anti-riot cops sustained minor injuries during the scuffle.
Earlier at Ayala Bridge, the same black-clad crowd clashed with the police and set a shipping container blocking their way on fire.
“Seventeen individuals believed to be responsible are now in the custody of the Manila Police District,” the PNP said in a statement.
“Appropriate charges are being readied for filing against those involved,” the PNP said as it appealed to the public to remain calm and refrain from violence, saying such actions endanger lives and undermine the message of those who wish to protest peacefully.
Former Bayan Muna secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. was one of those injured after he was struck in the face by a rock.
“Currently at the ER. Bloodied after being hit by a rock in Mendiola. Stones were being thrown and I got hit in the face,” Reyes said in a post on his social media account.
“I’m fine. Maga lang mukha pero makapapagmartsa pa din (My face is bloody but I’m okay and I can still march on),” he added.
He said the Bayan Muna program had ended and they were already leaving when a commotion broke out and rocks were thrown.
“The people who stayed in Mendiola were angry, years of pent-up anger. We don’t know who the groups were. They were not affiliated with Bayan but we could sense their anger. And even after we ended the program, they stayed on,” Reyes added.
In the Ayala Bridge clash, trouble started when unidentified men set several tires on fire.
Bottles, paint and rocks were thrown at the cops, who used their riot shields to protect themselves from the flying debris.
