MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has warned that agitators might exploit the upcoming November 30 anti-corruption rallies to sow unrest, urging protesters to remain peaceful and disassociate from groups allegedly plotting to provoke violence.
“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,” Marcos said, expressing apprehension over the potential infiltration of violent elements.
He disclosed that authorities had gathered intelligence on individuals who, in previous rallies, carried incendiary weapons.
“What demonstrator goes to a demonstration with Molotov cocktails that are not intending to cause trouble or to hurt people? Those are the people that we are worried about,” he said. “Those are the people that we are watching out for. We have a good idea of who they are.”
The President called on demonstrators to conduct their protests lawfully and avoid confrontations with police officers maintaining order.
“Tanggalin na ninyo sa isip ninyo ‘yan. Manggugulo kayo. Wala namang mangyayari. May masasaktan lang. Nasasaktan pa ‘yung mga kasama ninyo kuminsan,” he appealed.
“‘Yung mga pulis, wala namang kinalaman ‘yung pulis. They’re just there to control the crowd. They’re not there to hurt anyone. So that’s the only thing I worry about,” he added.
Marcos also acknowledged the mounting public outrage over revelations of massive corruption in certain government projects.
“The reason is the outrage. What we have been slowly or not so slowly discovering about some of these projects that were egregious in implementation and shameless in… dishonesty and abuse,” he said.
“You know, those funds are supposed to go to people to feed people, to make their lives better? That all disappeared because they’re buying airplanes and buying big mansions kung saan saan,” he added. “Of course they’ll be angry. Isipin mo, ang buhay nila ganyan, kami gutom. How can you be happy?”
The President reiterated that the government respects the people’s right to protest, but warned that violence would only undermine their call for accountability.
Thousands previously joined demonstrations on September 21 to denounce alleged corruption in flood control projects. While most gatherings were peaceful, scattered incidents of looting and clashes near Mendiola led to a police crackdown that drew criticism from rights groups for alleged indiscriminate arrests./PN
