Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the group clad in black who caused unrest in Mendiola and at Ayala Bridge in Manila were not genuine protesters but paid troublemakers.

Castro said this amid ongoing anti-corruption protests across the country on Sunday, Sept. 21, the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

In an interview with News5, the Palace Press Officer said the people involved in the burning of a container truck, the throwing of stones, and the hurling of Molotov bombs were not mere protesters.

“Hindi ito raliyista. Mga tulisan ito, eh (This is not a rallyist. These are bandits),” she said Sunday.

“Mukhang gusto nilang pabagsakin ang gobyerno (It seems they want to bring down the government.),” she added as she described the group’s actions as deliberate attacks rather than legitimate protest.

According to Castro, she had people in mind who could be behind the incidents, but said she could not reveal names.

“Ako, personal, may naiisip ako pero hindi ko pwedeng i-reveal kung sino ang nasa isip ko (Personally, I have someone in mind, but I cannot reveal who I’m thinking of),” she said.

“Wala namang gagawa niyan kung wala namang mag-uutos (Nobody will do these acts unless they were ordered to do so),” she added.

Castro said the demonstrators wore masks and threw stones, arguing those signs showed they were “masamang elemento (evil elements)” rather than civilians exercising free speech.

Asked whether the incidents were isolated, the Palace official called them worrying and planned, and that the people involved appeared to be paid.

“Planado ‘yan. Definitely planado ‘yan (That was planned. Definitely planned),” she said.

“Sabihin natin, alam ko lahat ‘yan ay bayaran (Let’s say, I know all of them were paid),” she added.

Castro urged arrest and investigation, saying the Philippine National Police (PNP) should act despite the Palace’s general stance of “maximum tolerance.”

“Nakita niyo naman ang kapulisan kahit binabato na wala pang ginagawa kasi yun ang gusto ng Pangulo—maximum tolerance (You saw the police even when they were being pelted and still did not act because that is what the President wants—maximum tolerance),” she said, noting that those arrested would be investigated by the police.

Asked about minors being involved, Castro said social workers must intervene and parents must be identified, even if some are under 15 years old.

“Kailangan pumasok ang social welfare dito, alamin kung sino magulang ng mga ‘yan (Social welfare must step in here, find out who the parents of those children are),” she said.

With this, Castro warned Filipinos not to be used.

“Tayo na po, mga kababayan natin, itong mga ganitong klaseng tao dapat sinusupil, pinapahinto. Magtulungan po tayo (Fellow countrymen, these kinds of people should be suppressed, stopped. Let us help one another),” she said.