Thousands Rally in Manila Against “Ghost” Infrastructure Scandal

Tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets of Manila on Sunday to protest against a growing scandal over alleged “ghost” flood-control projects, which are believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Public anger has intensified since President Ferdinand Marcos highlighted the issue in his July State of the Nation Address, delivered in the aftermath of weeks of deadly flooding.

On Monday, Marcos said he did not blame citizens for voicing their frustrations, but urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. The military has been placed on “red alert” as a precautionary measure.

An estimated 13,000 people gathered at Luneta Park on Sunday morning, chanting slogans and holding placards demanding accountability. Among them was Aly Villahermosa, a 23-year-old nursing student from Metro Manila, who recalled her own experiences of wading through floodwaters.

“If there’s a budget for ghost projects, then why is there no budget for the health sector?” she asked, condemning the alleged misuse of public funds as “truly shameful.”

Teddy Casiño, chairman of the left-wing alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said the protests were aimed at demanding both the recovery of stolen funds and punishment for those responsible.

“Corruption requires people to go to the streets and express their outrage in the hope of pressuring government to actually do their jobs,” Casiño said.