Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has denied reports circulating on social media that a protester was killed during the anti-corruption demonstrations held in Manila on Sunday, September 21.
Speaking at a Palace press briefing on Monday, September 22, Remulla stressed that no casualties were recorded during the incident, dismissing the circulating claims as "fake news."
“There were zero casualties. I repeat, there were zero casualties. What is spreading around in social media is fake news,” Remulla said.
He further emphasized that no protesters were seriously injured and noted that law enforcement personnel sustained more harm than demonstrators.
“None of the protesters were seriously hurt," he stressed.
"The police got hurt more than the protesters... Nakakaawa po ang mga pulis natin. Binuhasan ng tubig galing sa kanal, binato ng hollow block, binato ng molotov cocktail. Ganon pa man, walang ginamit na dahas laban sa mga raliyista,” he added.
Remulla said that 95 policemen were injured and received medical attention.
According to DILG data, a total of 216 individuals were arrested in connection with the protest, including 89 minors, after violent confrontations erupted in parts of Manila.
The SILG said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally directed authorities to exercise maximum tolerance during Sunday’s anti-corruption protest in Manila.
Remulla said the President called him to personally assess the situation at Ayala Bridge, where demonstrators set fire to a container truck placed by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to block access.
According to Remulla, none of the deployed 4,000 officers carried firearms, except for members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team stationed nearby.
“The purpose of having no firearms is because when you engage in a crowd, the chances of your firearm being pulled from you and used against you is very high,” he explained.
Remulla added that police did not discharge any weapons or use tear gas to disperse the rally.
“All the soldiers, all the policemen had instructions: use maximum tolerance. They had no tear gas and they had no firearms,” he stressed.
However, in a separate report, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that one individual was fatally stabbed during the chaos.
The protest comes amid growing frustration over the widespread corruption in government infrastructure projects.
