MANILA, Philippines – On Sunday, September 21, riots broke out in three elements of Manila as an enormous demonstration was ongoing at EDSA denouncing authorities corruption.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. beforehand expressed help for the protests in opposition to flood management fraud. However in mild of the violence that ensued throughout and after these protests, the federal government had dismissed rioters as a bunch of “hooligans.”
Not less than 216 have been arrested following the riots at Ayala Bridge, Recto, and Mendiola. Right here’s what we all know up to now.
What occurred, based mostly on police, gov’t official statements
At Ayala Bridge, protesters in black set hearth beneath a 10-wheeler truck and a motorbike, based on the Manila Police District. At Mendiola, protesters threw Molotov cocktails (crude bomb) to begin hearth, and “destroyed authorities properties, burned placards and tarpaulins.” At Recto, protesters ransacked a price range resort institution.
There have been no casualties, based on Inside Secretary Jonvic Remulla in a press briefing on Monday, September 22.
Remulla mentioned the protest subsided at round 5:30 pm. He lamented how the riots supposedly wasted efforts of peaceable demonstrators at Luneta and EDSA.
“Their proper to grievance was marred by possibly a bunch of 1,000 hooligans who needed nothing however to unfold anarchy,” mentioned Remulla. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro known as them “Workforce Itim (Workforce Black).”
“They are often thought-about ‘Workforce Black.’ They’re not rallyists with a official advocacy in opposition to corruption, however quite, troublemakers inciting violence, theft, arson, and harm to property,” Castro mentioned in Filipino in the identical briefing.
RAGE. On the evening of September 21, 2025, demonstrators burn two police bikes alongside Recto. Video by Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
What occurred, based on photojournalists
A scene captured by Reuters photojournalist Lisa Marie David: Younger males in black giving the center finger, one waving the Philippine flag, and one other carrying an indication that mentioned, “Fuck the System!”
Rappler photojournalist Alecs Ongcal caught on video protesters setting police bikes on hearth at Recto on Sunday night. “Ilalaban namin ang Pilipinas (We are going to battle for the Philippines),” a younger man whose nostril and mouth have been coated mentioned to Ongcal whereas her telephone was recording.
“Rebolusyon, rebolusyon, rebolusyon!” the demonstrators chanted.
In the meantime, a journalist masking the riots was not spared from the violence. Police grabbed and hit photojournalist Zedrich Xylak Madrid, who was on the scene at Mendiola taking photographs.
“In the direction of the top of the day, I observed extra hostility in direction of journalists masking the protests,” David wrote on Monday in a private put up containing photographs of the assault of Madrid. “At one level, one police officer tried to cease me from taking footage by pushing his riot protect in direction of me and my cameras.”
At Mendiola, police dispersed the gang with tear gasoline. In a video, anti-riot forces have been seen going after demonstrators with golf equipment. Remulla would emphasize the next day that the police had been instructed to conduct most tolerance.
MENDIOLA. Dispersal of black-clad demonstrators at Mendiola on September 21, 2025. Police reply to the chaos with water cannon and tear gasoline. Video by Marty Apuhin/Rappler
Nearly half of arrested are minors
Of the 216 arrested, 67 have been kids in battle with the regulation (above age 15 however beneath 18) and 24 have been kids in danger (aged 15 and beneath).
Makabayan lawmakers Antonio Tinio, Sarah Elago, and Renee Co visited the detained on Monday. Tinio mentioned they intend to boost considerations “concerning indicators of violence on two we interviewed when arrested or whereas in custody.”
“Majority had not been allowed contact with household and had not been given entry to a lawyer as of this morning,” Tinio advised Rappler in a message.
The lawmaker mentioned they have been already working with lawyer teams to supply authorized help to these arrested. They’re calling for the rapid launch of all minors.
The Manila Police District reported that 95 personnel sustained accidents, with some requiring medical consideration.
With group identification unknown, police begin to counsel terrorism
The federal government linked the riots to Nameless PH, a hacktivist collective believed to have attacked authorities web sites.
Nameless PH denied the allegations however has but to formally disavow their involvement, in accordance to Division of Data and Communications Secretary Henry Aguda.
On the one hand, pro-Duterte group Hakbang ng Maisug has disavowed from the riots, calling the violence unlucky.
“Violence between atypical Filipinos, the protesters on one hand and policemen on the opposite, received’t clear up the issues brought on by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” the assertion launched Sunday evening learn.
On the opposite, Renato Reyes, secretary-general of left-wing alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, disaffiliated themselves as properly from the disruptions in Manila.
“Do I condemn the offended individuals throwing stones and stuff? No. I’ll not agree with their techniques, however I perceive their anger,” Reyes mentioned in a put up. Nevertheless, he added a warning in a separate put up in X (previously Twitter) that utilizing the time period “terrorism” to check with the September 21 riots could have a chilling impact on the progressive motion.
Reyes mentioned: “I discover it deeply disturbing that authorities now could be utilizing the time period ‘terrorism’ to explain yesterday’s incidents in Ayala Blvd and Mendiola. It’s a harmful mindset that may be prolonged to the whole protest motion and is meant to have a chilling impact on the individuals.”
Performing police chief, Police Lieutenant Normal Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., was requested in the course of the Monday press briefing whether or not the demonstrators could possibly be recognized as terrorists.
“It will likely be [the] results of the persevering with investigation as we’re trying on the proof,” Nartatez advised reporters in a mixture of Filipino and English. “So, that’s why possibly it might result in terrorism or violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act.” – Rappler.com
