No repeat of Sept. 21 riots, government asks protesters

Policemen shield themselves from rocks thrown by protesters after setting fire to a trailer van near Malacanang Palace in Manila on September 21, 2025. Thousands of Filipinos marched in Manila on September 21 to vent their anger over a ballooning scandal involving bogus flood-control projects believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos on Saturday appealed to protesters joining the anticorruption rallies on Nov. 30 to avoid violence, expressing hope that there would be no repeat of the rallies held on Sept. 21.

“The only concern I have when we have demonstrations for whatever reason is that there are agitators who will go and try to cause trouble. What demonstrator goes to a demonstration with Molotov cocktails that are not intending to cause trouble or to hurt people?” Marcos said.

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Marcos was referring to the Sept. 21 protest actions denouncing corruption, where some demonstrators clashed with the police on Ayala Bridge in Manila.

Marcos said violence would do no good, lamenting that it would only end up injuring others, including police officers deployed to maintain peace and order.

Marcos stressed that while he understands the public anger over rampant corruption in government, violence is not the answer to the problem.