MEGA RALLY. Iglesia ni Cristo members, along with students, civic organizations and other community groups, gather at Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, for the opening of a three-day peaceful demonstration urging transparency in the government’s expanding flood-control investigation. (Photo courtesy of Manila PIO)
Mounting protests test the administration’s response to a corruption scandal spanning multiple regions
MANILA — Thousands of Filipinos gathered across Manila on Sunday, November 16, for the first day of a three-day protest calling for accountability in the widening investigation into alleged flood-control irregularities. The large mobilization, led by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and joined by civic and youth groups, drew crowds to both Rizal Park and the People Power Monument.
Local authorities placed attendance in the “tens of thousands,” consistent with early field assessments. Organizers said the gathering was centered on demands for clarity in public works spending, particularly in projects now under review by government investigators.
Participants arrived from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, many of which experienced severe flooding this year. Demonstrators carried placards referencing infrastructure issues and displayed printed copies of public audit summaries. The protests remained peaceful throughout the day, according to police monitoring reports.
Focus shifts to a commission with a broad mandate
The rallies come as the government’s Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) expands its review of flood-control and other public works projects. The commission was created in September through Executive Order No. 94 and is chaired by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. Its members include former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and fraud examiner Rossana Fajardo.
The ICI’s mandate covers approximately ₱545 billion in flood-control allocations made since 2022. Government officials have said that early assessments identified projects with incomplete documentation, cost discrepancies or potential non-implementation. These findings remain under investigation and have not been resolved.
The commission is coordinating with the Commission on Audit, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). Authorities have confirmed that the AMLC issued freeze orders on billions of pesos in assets linked to individuals and contractors flagged in the review. Officials have emphasized that freeze orders are precautionary and do not constitute a finding of guilt.
Multiple administrative and criminal complaints have been filed against contractors and some public works officials. As of mid-November 2025, no court has issued a conviction in relation to the flood-control allegations. All individuals named in complaints have publicly denied wrongdoing.
Storm impacts intensify public attention
Public interest in the inquiry rose sharply after Typhoons Tino and Uwan struck central and northern provinces earlier this month. Severe flooding affected areas that had received substantial flood-control funding in recent years. Damage reports and disaster briefings prompted renewed scrutiny of past project implementation.
Senate hearings held earlier in the year included testimony from engineers and regional officials regarding alleged procurement gaps and implementation concerns. Lawmakers emphasized that the inquiries must rely on formal records, sworn statements and verified audit findings.
Security preparations and peaceful turnout
The Philippine National Police placed Metro Manila on full alert ahead of the demonstrations. Checkpoints were established along major access routes to Luneta and EDSA, and medical and legal support teams set up assistance hubs in anticipation of large crowds.
Authorities noted that they sought to avoid a repeat of the September 21 protest near Malacañang, where a breakaway group clashed with police, resulting in arrests and injuries. On Sunday, officials reported no significant incidents and classified the event as orderly.
Broader implications for governance
The flood-control controversy continues to generate political and institutional fallout. Policy experts have pointed to longstanding procurement challenges in public works, saying the scale of the review underscores systemic issues that have accumulated across multiple administrations.
The Marcos administration has stated publicly that it intends to support the ICI’s work and ensure agencies provide all required records. Government briefings in recent weeks have described the review as part of a wider effort to strengthen oversight and restore public confidence in infrastructure spending.
Civil-society groups monitoring the inquiry have called for additional transparency measures, including the release of consolidated audit summaries and the adoption of clearer procurement rules for future projects.
As demonstrations continue through November 18, organizers say further activities are planned. Government officials have not announced specific timelines for the release of ICI findings, but agencies have indicated that preliminary reports will be submitted in phases.
