British News Agency

One of the protesters said, “Most young people have had enough. An entire population has been deceived, and it’s time to show our anger.”

The demonstrations in Manila took place in Quezon City, and most participants were young people. The scandal now coming to light may be one of the biggest in the country’s history.

The protests concern so-called “ghost projects,” involving local politicians and engineers who promised large investments in flood protection and evacuation centers.

Despite billions of dollars being paid, the projects were never built or were left unfinished, failing to protect anyone from the next natural disaster.

So far, more than 400 projects are suspected to be part of the corruption scandal currently under investigation, and thousands more await scrutiny.

In several coastal regions, half-finished walls and collapsed building foundations remain. They are symbols of betrayal, but also key evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Hans Flores, who lives in one of Manila’s most vulnerable coastal areas, said, “If the authorities had wanted to protect us and our families, they would have used this money to make our lives safer against the next storm. Now we see the truth: they chose to abandon us.”