Camille Naredo

The aftermath of a riot along Recto Avenue, September 21, 2025. Christopher Sitson, ABS-CBN News

The aftermath of a riot along Recto Avenue, September 21, 2025.

Article (news)

SEPT 21 PROTESTS

Christopher Sitson

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/1758477083448viber_image_2025-09-22_01-41-45-329.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The aftermath of a riot along Recto Avenue, September 21, 2025. Christopher Sitson, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The aftermath of a riot along Recto Avenue, September 21, 2025. <em>Christopher Sitson, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Manila Mayor Isko Moreno described the individuals arrested in Recto Avenue in Manila on Sunday night as &quot;utak adik&quot; and &quot;utak talangka.&quot;</p><p>The individuals were arrested in the middle of protests against alleged government corruption in the area, which took a violent turn late in the night.</p><p>&quot;Utak adik, utak talangka, matatapang lang &#x27;yan pag magkakasama sila, kita mo ngayon, nag-iiyakan,&quot; said Moreno on Sunday night after inspecting the area.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/protest-turns-into-deadly-riot-as-demonstrators-attack-establishments-along-recto-avenue-2027">READ: Protest turns into riot as &#x27;demonstrators&#x27; attack establishments along Recto Avenue</a></div><p>According to initial data from the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" 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 District</a>, more than 70 individuals were apprehended, including 20 minors while nearly 90 police officers were injured during  the commotion.</p><p>&quot;Marami akong pulis na nasugatan. Nasa ospital ngayon, &#x27;yung isa inooperahan,&quot; said Moreno.</p><p>The Manila mayor vowed that all those involved in the incident will face consequences.</p><p>&quot;Lahat ng na-apprehend will be charged, I will make sure, that they will pay the price. Kung sumali ka, naki-sapak ka, kasama ka sa danyos. Criminal and civil. Pagsisisihan nila &#x27;yan,&quot; he said.</p><p>Moreno also believes that holding a protest was not the real intent of those who were arrested.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t think raliyista &#x27;yung mga iyon because as you all know, they were in their respective places in the morning and afternoon, pero itong mga tolongges na kabataan, pagdating ng lilim ng gabi, nag-mob na. Maraming public and private property ang na-damage,&quot; he said</p><p>He also clarified that no one from the Philippine National Police fired a gun along Recto Avenue, and said that no deaths were reported in the incident.</p><p>&quot;Walang nagpaputok ng baril, kaya nga pinagpapasalamat ko na kahit sugatan &#x27;yung mga pulis, talagang maximum tolerance,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Salamat sa Diyos, both to the PNP and the rallyist, wala naman. Kaya lang mayroon akong isang pulis na nalagay sa alanganin ang buhay, medyo stable naman na siya,&quot; Moreno also said. </p><p>The protests along Recto Avenue had turned violent on Sunday night, when a group allegedly composed of teenagers attacked several establishments in the area.</p><p>The group figured in a confrontation with policemen, hurling stones and objects, including human waste, while setting fires in the middle of the street. They would later ransack a Sogo Hotel Branch along Recto. </p><p>Despite the incident in Recto, the PNP said the nationwide anti-corruption rallies were &quot;generally peaceful.&quot;</p><p>Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said there were some &quot;isolated incidents&quot; done by &quot;unruly protesters.&quot; Nonetheless, he noted that &quot;most rallies went on peacefully because many participants cooperated with the authorities.&quot; <strong>-- with a report from Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</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/zGhlTxz5A_0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Manila Mayor Isko Moreno described the individuals arrested in Recto Avenue in Manila on Sunday night as "utak adik" and "utak talangka."</p>

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno described the individuals arrested in Recto Avenue in Manila on Sunday night as "utak adik" and "utak talangka."

Moreno says no police gunfire, no deaths reported in Recto incident

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Moreno says no police gunfire, no deaths reported in Recto incident

Christopher Sitson,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 22, 2025 02:01 AM PHT

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Isko Moreno

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