Philippine president backs corruption scandal protests

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday he is not worried that street protests over alleged corruption in multi-billion flood-control projects will escalate into violence similar to the recent riots in Indonesia.

Marcos, whose family was ousted by a 1986 uprising over corruption and human-rights abuses, said public anger over the alleged anomalies is understandable and warned that the situation will only worsen if the government fails to act.

"Do you blame them for going out into the streets? If I wasn’t president, I might be out in the streets with them," he told reporters. "Of course they are enraged. Of course they are angry. I am angry. We should all be angry, because what’s happening is not right."

Senate and House investigations have uncovered irregularities in more than 500 billion pesos ($9 billion) worth of flood-control projects, including so-called "ghost" projects and substandard work in areas now suffering severe flooding.

Some whistleblowers alleged that certain legislators received kickbacks from project contractors.

Marcos announced the creation of an independent commission to investigate the allegations, vowing that nobody will be spared from the probe.

He also urged Filipinos to voice their outrage directly.

"Let them know your sentiments, let them know how they hurt you, how they robbed you," he said. "Shout at them, do whatever you want, demonstrate — just keep it peaceful."

So far, demonstrations have been small-scale, with the largest drawing about 3,000 students at a state university in the Manila area last Friday.

Organizers are calling for larger rallies in the coming days, including one on September 21, the anniversary of the declaration of martial law by Marcos Jr's father in 1972.