Ex-military officers lead protest in front of Camp Aguinaldo
Published Sep 21, 2025 12:06 pm
Members of various groups stage a protest against government corruption, particularly in flood control projects, at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City on September 21, 2025. The protesters called on the government to hold officials and contractors accountable for billions of pesos lost to anomalous contracts and substandard construction that have failed to address flooding in many parts of Metro Manila and the rest of the country. (Santi San Juan / MANILA BULLETIN)
Former military officers spearheaded a mass demonstration in front of Camp Aguinaldo, the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in Quezon City on Sunday, Sept. 21, as part of the nationwide massive anti-corruption protests against the anomalous flood control projects of the government.
The officers are part of the United People’s Initiative (UPI), a broad coalition composed of youth and student groups, transport and religious sectors, retired military and other uniformed personnel, Muslim communities, and People’s Movements.
The UPI was among the tens of thousands of protesters that took to the streets for the September 21 anti-corruption protests, with majority of the crowd gathered at the Luneta Park in Manila and People Power Monument in Quezon City.
The alliance denounced the reported corruption in flood control projects which they said has driven Filipinos deeper into poverty and pushed the country into mounting debt.
Their protest began as early as 8 a.m. in front of Gate 4 of Camp Aguinaldo, with dozens in attendance. However, some of them have camped outside Gate 4 of Camp Aguinaldo for nearly a week already. Others began their protest at the House of Representatives (HOR) a week ago to call for the ouster of then Speaker, Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Retired Philippine Army colonel Segundo Metran Jr., co-convenor of UPI, called on current military officials led by AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. to withdraw their support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who “is the most guilty” in the issue of the massive corruption.
“This flood control mess is the doing of President Marcos and his foolish cousin whom we helped oust from Batasan. We were among those who pushed for the removal of the Speaker of the House, Speaker ‘Demon’ Romualdez. That night he stepped down, and by the next day he was already out of the Philippines. That only means he is guilty,” he said in Filipino.
There was no verified information that Rep. Martin Romualdez had left the country after he stepped down as Speaker of the House.
Metran recalled Marcos’ 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) when the program was touted as a major accomplishment. The retired officer noted that despite billions spent, severe flooding hit Luzon just days after the announcement.
“You know, the public first learned about the flood control program during President Marcos’ 2024 State of the Nation Address, when he boasted about accomplishing some 5,500 flood control projects. When the President said that, all the sycophant congressmen applauded. Everyone clapped, and we were all delighted, thinking that finally the problems with flooding would be solved, that drainage canals would have a better flow of water. That’s what we believed,” he said.
“But nature responded. Just two days after his pronouncement, it rained, and Luzon was flooded. That woke us all up. I thought so many flood control projects had been completed, so why did that happen? That should have been enough reason back in 2024 for the President to act immediately,” he added.
“In his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Marcos said, ‘Mahiya naman kayo’ (Shame on you). But what he should have said was, ‘Mahiya naman tayong lahat sa mga kababayang Pilipino (Shame on us before the Filipino people). That should have been the tone of his words, as if to show that he was not deceiving the Filipino people,” he continued.
Metran also claimed that mounting public pressure, including UPI’s actions at the Batasang Pambansa last week, contributed to the resignation of Romualdez.
He called on government officials to work with integrity instead of enriching themselves at the expense of the people.
“I am protesting here today against corruption and the communists. That is what I stand for. Because here's the thing: if we do not carry out the fight against corruption and the communists, who will and when will it end?” he said.