Marilyn Cahatol

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stage a protest outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Friday, September 5, 2025, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presents its proposed 2026 budget before the Committee on Appropriations. 

A scuffle ensued after protesters hurled paint bombs at a mock DPWH tarp to dramatize their call, denouncing what they described as anomalous and overpriced flood control projects, branding them as “ghost” infrastructure, and accusing the agency of complicity in widespread corruption that, they said, worsens flooding and displaces communities.

Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL PROBE

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Saturday said the cases filed against activists who staged a protest before the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction and the House of Representatives will not stop them from doing “bigger and more militant protests against widespread corruption in government.”</p><p>“The police are mistaken if they think that their brutal response will instill fear among the people who are outraged by the flood control scandal, the obscene display of wealth by nepo families, and the systematic theft of taxpayers&#x27; money,” said Bayan.</p><p>The police earlier said they are <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/police-eye-charges-vs-protesters-who-threw-mud-vandalized-discaya-property-1259">eyeing </a>to press charges against protesters who threw mud and vandalized the Sarah Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction building in Pasig City.</p><p>Meanwhile, Bayan staged a protest before the House of Representatives on Friday, simultaneous to the House Committee on Appropriations’ deliberation of the 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).</p><p>The protesters clashed with the Philippine National Police.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F801233565769206%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;--darkreader-inline-border-top:none;--darkreader-inline-border-right:none;--darkreader-inline-border-bottom:none;--darkreader-inline-border-left:none" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Bayan, in its statement, questioned the authorities’ quick act to “find fault with those who are expressing anger against corruption, but slow to act or have done nothing to pursue accountability against those who stole billions of pesos from public funds.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/five-reveals-from-the-flood-control-data-1848">Five Reveals from the Flood-Control Data</a></div><p>“It reflects the bias of our laws, institutions, and law enforcers in favor of the rich and those occupying high positions in government,” it said.</p><p>“The police should at least show empathy with the people who are fiercely demanding accountability and justice. But in the end, as always, they chose to blindly protect the class interest of the rich and powerful,” the group added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘PROTESTS JUSTIFIED’</strong></div><p>Bayan said the protest held before the St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City is justified, noting that “the company&#x27;s anomalous flood control projects have not only led to a waste of public funds but also caused unnecessary casualties and destruction in our communities.”</p><p>Meanwhile, the protest in front of the House, they said, was led by flood victims who threw mud and paint at the police and a construction billboard “to allow the symbolic venting of rage against corrupt and incompetent officials led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”</p><p>The group further asserted that the protesters had not caused the clash, but the police who attempted to arrest some of them.</p><p>“We assert that the protest action was held peacefully and it allowed various sectors to articulate their legitimate concerns and grievances against the government,” the group said.</p><p>Bayan urged the authorities to capture the culprits behind the anomalies in the flood-control projects, and to not undermine the public’s right to free speech.</p><p>“Brace for more protests in the coming days and weeks as more people are speaking out and coordinating actions for a sustained fight against corruption and pursuing the demand for truth, accountability, and justice,” Bayan said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/6/groups-urge-gov-t-to-replace-system-of-corruption-with-transparency-accountability-1342">&#x27;Dapat may managot&#x27;: Amid flood control probe, groups urge gov&#x27;t to replace &#x27;system of corruption&#x27; with transparency, accountability</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>CLERIC URGED PROBE ON LAWMAKERS </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, a cleric from the Archdiocese of Jaro urged authorities to include lawmakers in the probe into the allegedly corrupt flood-control projects.</p><p>Monsignor Meliton Oso, Director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), questioned the “selective scrutiny of private contractors,” saying that lawmakers should be included in the probe, who he said get a slice of the project funds, citing Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s previous statements.</p><p>“If you steal from me, I alone am affected. But if you steal from the national coffers, you rob the whole country—especially the poor,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/2/ph-economy-lost-over-p100-b-to-ghost-flood-control-projects-from-2023-2025-recto-1859">PH economy lost over P100-B to &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects from 2023-2025: Recto</a></div><p>The cleric called for an independent commission to lead the probe behind the controversial flood control projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d85xsIygJMU?si=rVydLPoR63dtt1zk" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the cases filed against activists who staged a protest before the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction and the House of Representatives will not stop them from doing “bigger and more militant protests against widespread corruption in government.”</p>

Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the cases filed against activists who staged a protest before the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction and the House of Representatives will not stop them from doing “bigger and more militant protests against widespread corruption in government.”

Bayan says charges against activists will not deter them from protesting

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Bayan says charges against activists will not deter them from protesting

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 06, 2025 05:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

DPWH

St. Gerrard Construction

House of Representatives

PNP

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