On September 21, 2025, tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets in outrage over one of the country’s biggest corruption scandals in decades. At the center: nearly 10,000 flood-control projects worth ₱545 billion ($9.5B), many of which were substandard or fake. A wealthy couple’s Senate testimony exposed alleged kickbacks involving lawmakers and officials. Mass protests erupted across Manila, leading to clashes, arrests, and resignations of top leaders. President Marcos Jr. called the corruption “horrible” and vowed action, but many Filipinos want more than promises.