Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Youth protesters clash with anti-riot police at Mendiola in Manila during an anti-corruption rally marking the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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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/17590485346391759048532162.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Youth protesters clash with anti-riot police at Mendiola in Manila during an anti-corruption rally marking the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Youth protesters clash with anti-riot police at Mendiola in Manila during an anti-corruption rally marking the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Sunday, September 21, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A week since massive protests against corruption in flood control projects and as investigations into the controversy either wrap up or plod on, around 80 youths, activists and Manila residents arrested after violence sparked at the end of a protest on Mendiola Street remain in detention.</p><p>Lawyer Maria Sol Taule, deputy secretary general of rights group Karapatan, said prosecutors might resolve the complaints against them by Monday, September 29, even as lawyers argue that they should have been released no later than 36 hours after arrest.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/93-police-officers-injured-113-protesters-arrested-in-violent-september-21-demonstration-0843"><strong>95 cops injured, 216 protesters arrested in violent Sept. 21 demonstrations<br/></strong></a></div><p>Monday is also the last day for Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, whose travel authority House Speaker Faustino Dy III has cancelled, to r<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/zaldy-co-tells-speaker-i-have-every-intention-of-returning-to-ph-1307">eturn to the Philippines and answer allegations</a> on budget insertions and alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects.</p><p>Failure to return, Dy warned, could lead to sanctions from the House.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/doj-to-request-for-interpol-notice-for-zaldy-co-palace-1512"><strong>DOJ to request for Interpol notice for Zaldy Co: Palace</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Ang katotohanan, mga mahihirap, mga bata pinaparusahan samantalang ang tunay na krimen — ano ba ang puno’t dulo nito? — siyempre, yung korapsyon, yung talagang ikinagagalit ng mamamayan ay ginawa ng estado mismo,” lawyer Josa Deinla, secretary general of the National Union of People&#x27;s Lawyers, said at a press conference last Friday.</p><p>(The truth is, the poor and the young are being punished when the real crime, the corruption that has sparked anger in the people, was done by the state.)</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:551px;height:871px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1969645362463064338&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-28T06%3A11%3A17.305758%3A75d4df92-c6ff-4977-a779-3b48f53d779c%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=ccaf0773aa2b54603c46086884600fafaf9740fd&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1969645362463064338"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;HIPHOP GANGSTERS&#x27; AND &#x27;ANARCHISTS&#x27;?</strong></div><p>Authorities have attributed the violence on Ayala Bridge, Mendiola Street and Recto Avenue to <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/-hiphop-gangsters-involved-in-manila-riot-police-0959">&quot;hiphop gangsters&quot;</a>, &quot;anarchists&quot;, or people paid by politicians to make trouble.</p><p>“Parang gusto nilang gayahin ‘yung nangyari sa ibang bansa at may iniidolo sila na isang rapper na nag-udyok sa kanila na magpunta doon at mag-uniporme, face masks,” Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, said last Monday,</p><p>(They wanted to replicate what happened in other countries and they idolize a rapper who had encouraged them to go there in uniforms and masks)</p><p>But lawyers and health workers said many of those arrested were only bystanders and residents who had been swept up by police.</p><p>&quot;They consistently and categorically denied inflicting any violence or damage to property. Numerous accounts confirmed that individuals were simply fleeing for safety when they were apprehended,&quot; law groups said in a joint statement last Wednesday, September 23.</p><p>Speakers at the Friday press conference said many detainees had bruises and wounds. They also said they had received reports that detainees had been made to hurt each other.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/dilg-chief-denies-police-gunshots-says-anarchists-to-face-raps-1052"><strong>DILG chief denies police gunshots, says &#x27;anarchists&#x27; to face raps<br/></strong></a></div><p>Lawyer Zoe Caballero of law group SENTRA said police had not used reasonable or necessary force in the arrests, adding some detainees they visited had only been given &quot;light snacks&quot; and hardly any water in the 24 hours since the arrests.</p><p>Even the minors who would be put into a diversion program to perform community service twice a week should only have been made to do so after a determination of guilt, she said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi man lang tinatanong kung ano ang kanilang partisipasyon,&quot; she said.</p><p>(They were not even asked about their participation in the violence.)</p><p>The Manila Police District, which conducted the arrests, has denied the allegations.</p><p>“Unang-una, ang magsasabi niyan kung may illegal arrest ay ’yung piskalya. Na-inquest sila, ibig sabihin legal ang pag-aresto,” <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/protesters-demand-release-of-minors-arrested-after-manila-rally-1628">said PMaj. Philipp Ines, MPD spokesperson</a>.</p><p>(In the first place, the prosecutor would be the one to determine if arrest was illegal. Those detained went through inquest proceedings, so that means the arrests were legal.)</p><p>He added the minors were not detained in cells but were placed in the custody of the Women and Children Protection Section.</p><p>He said they were provided a medical team, lawyers, access to a human rights observer as well as &quot;food and care&quot;.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NOT MAXIMUM TOLERANCE&#x27;</strong></div><p>The national police has also stressed that its officers had exercised maximum tolerance, an assertion that Karapatan and the law groups dispute.</p><p>In a press release on Saturday, Karapatan said it had received reports that detainees, some of whom are PWDs, have &quot;been subjected to beatings, forced to perform degrading tasks, extorted for money in exchange for protection from further harm, and coerced into admitting guilt.&quot;</p><p>Others have been deprived medical attention, the group also said.</p><p>&quot;One detainee has a swollen foot at risk of infection, while many others are showing alarming symptoms such as fever and body pains, likely caused by the torture they suffered,&quot; Taule added.</p><p>&quot;Mas mabilis yung pagpaparusa pag mayroong nasirang ari-arian, kaysa sa may binugbog na bata,&quot; Deinla said Friday, referring to complaints of damage to property, malicious mischief and destructive arson complaints some of the detainees face.</p><p>(Punishment for damaging property comes quicker than when children are beaten up.)</p><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/1759046159373Screenshot 2025-09-28 at 3.40.19 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Atty. Maria Sol Taule, deputy secretary general of rights group Karapatan, speaks at a press conference on Sept. 26, 2025. Screengrab from Altermidya Livestream"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Atty. Maria Sol Taule, deputy secretary general of rights group Karapatan, speaks at a press conference on Sept. 26, 2025. <em>Screengrab from Altermidya Livestream</em></span></span></span></div><div><strong>HOUSE SUSPENDS PROBE, SENATE TAKES BREAK</strong></div><p>In the meantime, the House has <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/house-mega-panel-halts-probe-on-flood-control-mess-co-chair-1510">suspended its probe into the flood control projects</a> &quot;to give way&quot; to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure&#x27;s investigation, as Saro Bicol Rep. Terry Ridon, panel chair, said it would do if House members are implicated.</p><p>The Senate is also taking a break from hearings to collate information gathered in blockbuster meetings this week and to see how it can continue the probe amid separate hearings on the proposed 2026 national budget. </p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/ex-dpwh-exec-roberto-bernardo-admits-wrongdoing-in-flood-control-fiasco-0916"><strong>Ex-DPWH exec Roberto Bernardo tags Escudero, Co, Revilla, Binay in kickbacks<br/></strong></a></div><p>The ICI and the Department of Justice, meanwhile, have been meeting with officials and contractors — <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/28/doj-sara-discaya-s-finger-heart-a-sign-of-insincerity-1226">including Sara Discaya, who made finger hearts at media on Saturday</a> — in their own investigations.</p><p>As investigations go into the slower-paced case-building phase, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/28/groups-keep-pressure-up-on-flood-control-project-corruption-1213">groups have promised continued protests to keep the pressure on government</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/21-people-recommended-for-case-build-up-prosecution-in-flood-control-mess-1438"><strong>21 people recommended for case build-up, prosecution in flood control mess<br/></strong></a></div><p>“Konting pitik lang kay Zaldy Co, sapat na yon? Hindi! Hindi! Hindi! Ang kailangang mangyari, may makulong, may makasuhan, at may talagang masipa mula sa puder at kung hindi sasangayon sa atin si Presidente Marcos tuloy, tuloy lang po, yung pagkilos natin,” Kiko Aquino Dee, Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor, said Sunday. </p><p>(Is a slap on the wrist on Zaldy Co enough? No, no, no! What should happen is people are dismissed, charged, jailed. If President Marcos isn&#x27;t with us on that, the protests will continue.)</p><div><br/></div><div><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/btpX-v-3-aQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A week since massive protests against corruption in flood control projects and as investigations into the controversy either wrap up or plod on, around 80 youths, activists and Manila residents arrested after violence sparked at the end of a protest on Mendiola Street remain in detention.</p>

A week since massive protests against corruption in flood control projects and as investigations into the controversy either wrap up or plod on, around 80 youths, activists and Manila residents arrested after violence sparked at the end of a protest on Mendiola Street remain in detention.

WRAP: Dozens still in detention a week since massive anti-corruption protests

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WRAP: Dozens still in detention a week since massive anti-corruption protests

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 28, 2025 09:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Karapatan

National Union of People's Lawyers

Manila Police District

Flood Control Projects

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