Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Political analyst Ronald Llamas and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Teddy Casiño attend a news conference in Quezon City on Sept. 20, 2025. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758343534778G1QVzVJawAAVOHe.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Political analyst Ronald Llamas and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Teddy Casiño attend a news conference in Quezon City on Sept. 20, 2025. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Political analyst Ronald Llamas and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Teddy Casiño attend a news conference in Quezon City on Sept. 20, 2025. <em>Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A political analyst on Saturday urged the public against letting &quot;dark forces&quot; hijack the September 21 anti-corruption protests, warning the movement might be used for other political intentions.</p><p>Ronald Llamas, former political adviser of the late President Benigno Aquino III, said anger over alleged corruption in flood control projects has prompted even those who are usually apolitical to take action, but also said those with other motives could ride on the mass demonstrations too.</p><p>“Kasama dito mga zumba groups sa Cavite, zumba groups sa Davao, fun runs sa Malolos, yung mga [tao] satin na wala namang pakialam sa pulitika. May mga bagong elemento at hindi [dating] sumasama, yun ang mahalaga dito,” Llamas told reporters in a Saturday news briefing. </p><p>(The zumba groups in Cavite and Davao are part of the demonstrations, the fun runs in Malolos, the people who are not really interested in politics. There are new elements, that&#x27;s what&#x27;s important here)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/some-jeepneys-to-give-free-rides-during-september-21-protests-1809"><strong>Some jeepneys to give free rides during September 21 protests<br/></strong></a></div><p>He added that the protests are not happening in a vaccum and that there may be people and groups who will use the protests for &quot;their own vested interests.&quot;</p><p>“Di ako magugulat na may pro-revolutionary forces na sasakay dito,” Llamas, former president of the Akbayan party, also said.</p><p>(I would not be surprised if pro-revolutionary forces will ride on this)</p><p>Protesters and activists in the Philippines are commonly labeled as members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People&#x27;s Army-National Democratic Front, a practice called &quot;red-tagging.&quot; </p><p>The political analyst noted that some political entities and groups have surfaced recently to piggyback on peoples’ anger over the anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>“Yung mga masasamang damo na nakapaligid sa binungkal na lupa ay dapat bunutin din namin o baka masabotahe,” he said. </p><p>(The weeds around newly broken ground need to be pulled out or this could be sabotaged)</p><p>Llamas also warned of &quot;bad elements&quot; that he said could derail the good intentions of the protests.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/14/afp-on-red-alert-amid-anti-corruption-protests-1542"><strong>AFP on &#x27;red alert&#x27; amid protests against flood control corruption</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHY GROUPS ARE WARY OF &#x27;RESIGN&#x27; CALLS</strong></div><p>Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Teodoro Casiño, a former Bayan Muna party-list representative, agreed and said some groups might try to take advantage of people&#x27;s sentiments.</p><p>“We are very wary of calls for resignation. Although tingin namin it is a legitimate call, legitimate din ang call ng impeachment ni (Vice President) Sara Duterte, ang iniiwasan natin ay makapasok sa away ng dalawa,” he added.</p><p>(We are very wary of calls for resignation. Although we see that as a legitimate call, the call for the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte is also legitimate. What we want to avoid is getting caught in the middle of their rivalry)</p><p>The Marcos Jr. and Duterte factions of the former UniTeam administration alliance have been clashing since before the May elections and have been pointing fingers over the flood control mess.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/palace-hits-back-at-vp-duterte-for-calling-pace-of-anti-corruption-probe-slow-1438"><strong>Palace hits back at VP Duterte for calling pace of anti-corruption probe slow</strong></a></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said he understands the public&#x27;s anger and that he might join the protests himself if he wasn&#x27;t president.</p><p>But Casiño said Marcos Jr. should just listen to the sentiments of the public and not attend in case he had any plans to.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PUBLIC PRESSURE LED TO LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN CONGRESS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Llamas attributed the changes of leadership in the House and Senate to “pressure from below” or from the Filipino public. </p><p>“Nagsisimula nang magkaroon ng epekto itong galit na ito, yung pagtanggal, pagkaso, paglagay ng hold departure order, pag-freeze ng bank accounts, at pag-amin ng mga whistleblower,” he also said.</p><p>(The public&#x27;s anger has had an effect. We have seen removals from posts, cases being filed, hold departure orders being issued, bank accounts getting frozen, and whistleblowers admitting what they did) </p><p>In the end, Llamas said, he hopes the investigations by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, House Infrastructure Committee, and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) would lead to accountability that will remove the root cause of corruption. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/amlc-gets-new-freeze-order-on-592-bank-accounts-linked-to-anomalous-flood-control-projects-2231"><strong>AMLC gets new freeze order on 592 bank accounts linked to anomalous flood control projects</strong></a></div><p>Tindig Pilipinas, among the convenors of the Sept. 21 protest at the People Power Monument in Quezon City, said it is expecting 30,000 individuals to participate.</p><p>&quot;The Trillion Peso March&quot; is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, the 53rd anniversary of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.’s declaration of martial law.</p><p>&quot;Bahain ang Luneta&quot;, organized by activists and multi-sectoral groups, will start at 9 a.m. at Luneta in Manila.</p><p>Groups associated with the Dutertes have also announced parallel activities at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila and at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.</p><p>A prayer rally will also be held in Davao City, where Vice President Sara Duterte said, 100 cattle would be sacrificed.</p>

<p>Former Aquino adviser Ronald Llamas said anger over alleged corruption in flood control projects has prompted even those who are usually apolitical to take action, but also said those with other motives could ride on the mass demonstrations too.</p>

Former Aquino adviser Ronald Llamas said anger over alleged corruption in flood control projects has prompted even those who are usually apolitical to take action, but also said those with other motives could ride on the mass demonstrations too.

Political analyst urges public: Don’t let ‘dark’ elements hijack Sept. 21 protests

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Political analyst urges public: Don’t let ‘dark’ elements hijack Sept. 21 protests

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 20, 2025 12:54 PM PHT

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Updated September 20, 2025 01:05 PM PHT

Read More:

Ronald Llamas

Teddy Casiño

Tindig Pilipinas

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

Flood control projects

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