Why Canadians should pay attention to the mass anti-corruption protests in the Philippines
Filipinos living in Canada may have seen striking photos online of mass protests in the Philippines last weekend.
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, marked the 53rd anniversary of the day former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. imposed martial law on the country. From 1972 to 1981, Filipino citizens were stripped of their rights, and the press and any opposition were violently silenced.
Described as a kleptocrat by many scholars, Marcos Sr. was infamous for using his political power to accumulate wealth by stealing from everyday people.
By the end of his rule, almost half of the population in the Philippines was living in extreme poverty, while his family lived in opulence. According to the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the Marcos family stole billions of dollars from the country between 1965 and 1986.
Decades later, Marcos Sr.’s political dynasty lives on with his son, the current Philippine president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Now, Filipinos find themselves in a similar predicament, accusing the Marcos government and its collaborators of corruption.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of Filipinos across the country took to the streets to protest in what was dubbed the “Trillion Peso March” and “Baha sa Luneta” (Flood Luneta), demanding accountability and punishment for those in the government and private sector who are being accused of stealing trillions of pesos in public funds.
Pete Llevares/Shutterstock
There are an estimated one million Filipinos living in Canada, many of whom work to send money back home. In 2020, Filipino Canadians sent a total of $1 billion in remittances to their loved ones in the Philippines.
This is one of the reasons why Filipino youth advocacy group Anakbayan Canada says it’s important for Canadians to pay attention.
“For youth in the diaspora, this corruption is not distant. It is the very violence that forced our families abroad, tearing parents from children and scattering lives,” they shared in a statement on Tuesday. “Even here, as students and young workers, we are forced to send remittances that prop up a state which refuses to provide jobs, education, or protection.”
If you haven’t been following, here’s what you need to know about the protests happening in the Philippines.
Flood control corruption in the Philippines
The mass protests this past weekend were ignited over alleged corruption surrounding flood control projects in the Philippines.
As one of the most typhoon-prone countries in Asia, Marcos Jr.’s administration has spent an estimated ₱545 billion (C$11.95 billion) for flood control projects, which are methods used to reduce or prevent the devastating effects of floodwaters.
However, in late 2024, the president vetoed ₱16.7 billion worth of flood control initiatives, citing inconsistencies in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) management of the projects.
In September, the Philippine House of Representatives’ infrastructure committee began nationally televised hearings, grilling construction firms and government officials allegedly involved in the massive corruption in flood control projects.
Some anecdotes from the hearings include those of construction company owners Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, who claimed that several congressmen and public works officials forced them to pay massive kickbacks, or bribes, for their companies to secure profitable flood control projects from the government.
Marcos Jr. said he would form an independent commission to investigate the corruption after discovering substandard quality and other anomalies in provincial flood control projects, including a project that was supposed to be complete but turned out to be nonexistent.
These investigations come after back-to-back typhoons caused massive floods that displaced over 300,000 Filipinos, damaged nearly 3,000 houses, and killed at least 26 people.
The Philippine economy is estimated to have lost ₱118.5 billion (C$2.8 billion) from 2023 to 2025 as a result of the flood control corruption, according to the country’s Department of Finance.
The rich flaunting their money
To add salt to the wound, some of these private contractors and government officials are facing backlash for flaunting their wealth. The Discayas have become the faces of this corruption scandal after a 2024 interview and tour of their home went viral.
During the interview, the couple showed off their collection of dozens of luxury vehicles.
And it’s not just the adults facing ire from the public. Children of politicians and contractors accused of stealing public funds are also in the hot seat.
Filipino social media has dubbed them “nepo babies.” The young women give a behind-the-scenes look into their lavish lifestyles online, sharing hauls of designer clothing and a glimpse into first-class flights.
“Normalize public shaming and calling out all corrupt politicians and their families who shamelessly flaunt our tax money. Staying silent only protects those who fail us,” reads one comment from a TikTok compilation of Verniece Enciso, daughter of Bureau of Customs officer Verne Enciso.
Mobilizing against corruption
All of this came to a boiling point last Sunday, with protesters flooding the streets shouting “Ikulong na ‘yan mga kurakot!” which translates to “Lock up the corrupt!”
Filipino celebrities were among the crowd, including Miss Universe 2018 winner Catriona Gray and TV personality Vice Ganda.
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Ganda gave a rousing speech, calling on the president to jail corrupt government officials, and even arguing for the return of the death penalty for those involved in the misuse of public funds.
While a majority of the march was peaceful, regional police claimed that protests in parts of Manila “turned very violent.”
While a statement from authorities claimed that protesters “assaulted police officers,” advocacy organizations in the Philippines say that demonstrators were “illegally detained,” including some who were minors.
Anakbayan Canada condemned the mass arrests and “police brutality.”
“While most protesters could go home after the rally, those who stayed and wanted to continue channelling their anger may not have homes to return to,” they stated. “They are likely the sharpest victims of the sham flood control projects.”
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“Those arrested were the poor and displaced, the very people most victimized by corruption. Meanwhile, the corrupt elites that people were protesting against are still walking freely,” they added.
Mere days after the march, the Philippines was hit by tropical storm Bualoi. As of Friday, at least four people are confirmed dead, and 400,000 have been displaced.
Daily Hive has reached out to Rechie Valdez, the first Filipino woman to be elected as MP, for comment.