President Marcos has ordered that all those who used violence during Sunday’s rallies will be held accountable, Malacañang said, as it condemned the group that supposedly started what government officials described as “anarchy.”

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made this statement following the violence that ensued in Manila on Sept. 21, after the peaceful anti-corruption protests in Luneta earlier that day.

In a press briefing on Monday, Sept. 22, Castro said those involved in the chaos would be held accountable.

“Mananagot ang lahat. ‘Yan ang nais ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa lahat ng sinumang gumamit ng karahasan sa naganap na peaceful rally noong Linggo (Everyone will be held accountable. That is what President Marcos wants for all who used violence during the peaceful rally on Sunday),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

The Palace Press Officer said the administration strongly condemned the group she referred to as “Team Itim,” describing them as masked troublemakers who burned properties, pelted the police with rocks, and hurled Molotov cocktails in Mendiola and Ayala Bridge.

“Hindi sila raliyista na may lehitimong adhikain laban sa korapsyon, kundi gumawa lang karahasan, magnakaw, manunog, at manira (They were not protesters with a legitimate cause against corruption, but only caused violence, stole, burned, and destroyed),” she said.

Castro warned those who exploited young people to join violent acts.

“Hindi kayo makakalagpas sa kamay ng batas at ang mga tao sa inyong likuran na gumamit sa inyo. Mga gahaman sa kapangyarihan (You will not escape the law, nor will those behind you who used you. They are greedy for power),” she said.

Figures from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) showed 216 people were arrested on Sept. 21, including 127 adults and 89 minors.

Among the minors, 65 were children in conflict with the law (those aged 15 to 17), while 24 were children at risk or those aged 14 and below.

The DILG also reported that 95 police personnel were wounded during the dispersals, some of them requiring serious medical attention.

Castro stressed that the President heard the people’s grievances against corruption and respected their right to protest.

“Hindi siya naging hadlang sa malaking protesta (He was not a hindrance to the large protest),” she said.

She reiterated that Marcos continued to respect human rights, even as he condemned the use of foul language and violence during the demonstrations.

“Sa iilang gumamit ng foul language, nirerespeto ang inyong karapatang magpahayag. Pero may responsibilidad din kayong maging magandang ehemplo lalo na sa kabataan (For those who used foul language, your right to speak is respected. But you also have the responsibility to set a good example, especially to the youth),” Castro said.

She added that the President stood with the public in fighting corruption, citing his move to investigate anomalous flood control projects.

While President Marcos is unfazed by threats, Castro said Malacañang and law enforcement agencies remain ready should the violent protests spill over in the coming days or weeks.

“Handa pa rin po ang ating kapulisan, handa po ang administrasyon sa mga ganyang klaseng laban (Our police are ready, the administration is ready for those kinds of confrontations),” she said.

“Hindi po patitinag ang ating Pangulo sa mga ganyang threats (Our President will not be shaken by such threats),” she added.

Asked why some groups appeared intent on targeting Malacañang, Castro said it was driven by a desire for power and to discredit the President.

“Merong gusto kumuhang power. Yun lang (There are those who want to seize power. That’s it),” she said.

“Gusto sirain ang magandang nagagawa ng Pangulo, at sirain ang pangulo sa mata ng ibang tao (They want to destroy the good work of the President, and destroy the President in the eyes of others),” she added.