Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Protest

Katrina Domingo

Karen De Guzman

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<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/1758501575480cropped-Screen Shot 2025-09-22 at 8.38.11 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">What began as peaceful rallies quickly escalated into violence as protesters and law enforcement clashed at key areas, including Ayala Bridge, Mendiola, and Claro M. Recto Avenue. ABS-CBN News footage/screengrab</span></span></span>MANILA — Ninety-five police officers were injured and 216 protesters were arrested following violent clashes during the anti-corruption demonstrations held across Manila on September 21, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday. </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/pnp-anti-corruption-rallies-generally-peaceful-despite-isolated-incidents-2207">PNP: Anti-corruption rallies &#x27;generally peaceful&#x27; despite isolated incidents</a></div><p>What began as peaceful rallies quickly escalated into violence as protesters and law enforcement clashed at key areas, including Ayala Bridge, Mendiola, and Claro M. Recto Avenue.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/moreno-says-no-police-gunfire-no-deaths-reported-in-recto-incident-0201">Moreno says no police gunfire, no deaths reported in Recto incident</a></div><p>Among those arrested were 127 adults and 89 minors, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.</p><p>Manila City Mayor Isko Morena said a 12-year-old boy was the youngest detained.</p><p>Police said officers were hit by rocks, bottles, and improvised weapons thrown by some protesters.</p><p>In certain areas, burning tires and barricades made access difficult for emergency responders.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/manila-police-72-arrested-due-to-violent-acts-during-sept-21-protests-2230">Manila Police: 72 arrested due to violent acts during Sept. 21 protests</a></div><p>“So far, none of them are saying the reasons behind their actions or if somebody paid them to do it,&quot; regional police spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo told AFP.</p><p>&quot;As soon as we know their affiliations, we can know if they were part of the protesters or if they were just causing trouble,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INSPIRED BY A RAPPER?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Police noted that the majority of arrests in Recto were linked to reports of property damage, attempted forced entry into private establishments, and attacks on law enforcement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/in-photos-outpouring-of-anger-as-filipinos-demand-accountability-2253">IN PHOTOS: Outpouring of anger as Filipinos demand accountability</a></div><p>In an interview, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin said that interviews with those in custody revealed that many participants were allegedly inspired by events in other countries and influenced by a popular rapper.</p><p>“Parang gusto nilang gayahin ‘yung nangyari sa ibang bansa at may iniidolo silang isang rapper na parang nag-udyok sa kanila na pumunta doon tapos magsuot ng black na uniporme, magtakip ng mukha kasi nga pilosopya nila na &quot;no face, no case”, he said.</p><p>“Iniimbestigahan kung sino ‘yung tinutukoy nila na rapper.”</p><p>Police are also looking into whether a larger organization or individual may have financed or orchestrated the gathering, and whether any of those involved were under the influence of illegal drugs.</p><p>“Ipapaalam namin sa publiko kung ano ang resulta ng imbestigasyon namin,” Aberin said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MINORS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the rights of the arrested minors would be arrested. </p><p>“Ayaw natin silang i-treat as hardened people kaagad, dapat bigyan muna ng pang-unawa ang sitwasyon bago tayo mag-proceed with the cases against them,” Remulla said.</p><p>He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be involved in the preparation of cases.</p><p>“We are asking the DSWD, the police to make sure the DSWD is there, when we start filing cases against them, these young people,” Remulla said.</p><p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also assured that the police will do its job but with more compassion for the minors involved. </p><p>“Gagawin natin ang trabaho natin para managot ang mga kabataan pero magiging compassionate naman tayo, didinggin natin ang kanilang mga karapatan at karapatan ng mga magulang,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NOT ARBITRARY ARRESTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Aberin said authorities began monitoring the group early, even before the violence began.</p><p>He also emphasized that arrests were not arbitrary.</p><p>“Hindi tayo nang-aresto or nag pick up lang na nakatambay doon. Sila talaga ‘yung aggressor. Kung nambato sila, ‘yun talaga ‘yung hinahabol natin na arestuhin,” he said.</p><p>“Documented ‘yung nangyari. May body worn camera, may CCTV na naka-install sa lugar.“</p><p>The police said the investigation was ongoing and pledged to release further findings as they become available.</p><p>Sunday&#x27;s street battles threatened to overshadow demonstrations that had been filled with families, activists, clergy and politicians.</p><p>Rage over the so-called ghost infrastructure projects has been mounting since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. put them center stage in a July state of the nation address that followed weeks of deadly flooding.  </p><p>The Department of Finance has estimated the Philippine economy lost up to P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects.</p><p>Greenpeace has suggested the number is actually closer to $18 billion.</p><p>The Philippines on Monday was expecting heavy flooding once more as super typhoon Nando bore down on the country&#x27;s northernmost provinces. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/9/22/super-typhoon-nando-approaches-babuyan-islands-life-threatening-conditions-imminent-1119">Super typhoon Nando approaches Babuyan Islands, &#x27;life-threatening&#x27; conditions imminent</a></div><p>The archipelago nation is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, putting millions of people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/22/evacuees-in-philippines-taiwan-take-shelter-as-super-typhoon-nando-nears-0927">Evacuees in Philippines, Taiwan take shelter as super typhoon Nando nears</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u2BCSRyhbJo?&amp;t=14s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nHA_Mg-59Ks?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNYXn4RkLnA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pTszdskO-wI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Ninety-five police officers were injured and 216 protesters were arrested following violent clashes during the anti-corruption demonstrations held across Manila on September 21, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday.</p>

Ninety-five police officers were injured and 216 protesters were arrested following violent clashes during the anti-corruption demonstrations held across Manila on September 21, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday.

95 cops injured, 216 protesters arrested in violent Sept. 21 demonstrations

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95 cops injured, 216 protesters arrested in violent Sept. 21 demonstrations

Katrina Domingo,

Karen De Guzman,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published September 22, 2025 08:43 AM PHT

|

Updated September 22, 2025 05:21 PM PHT

Read More:

PNP

MPD

NCRPO

protests

rallies

peaceful

isolated incidents

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