Protesters, Duterte loyalists in tense face-off at Luneta, EDSA rallies

MANILA, Philippines — A tense scene unfolded at the Trillion Peso March on EDSA when anti-corruption rallyists were confronted by supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday, September 21.

The two groups engaged in a heated verbal clash and standoff, shouting expletives at each other near the People Power Monument. Civil society and church groups, meanwhile, were holding a program onstage calling for accountability in alleged P1.9 trillion flood control project anomalies and other schemes siphoning off public funds.

Organizers stressed the protest remained peaceful despite the verbal clashes. A few Duterte supporters, however, later engaged in a fist fight with rallyists. 

At the earlier rally at Rizal Park in Manila, a similar confrontation broke out when pro-Duterte rallyists questioned why speakers onstage were making political statements even against the former president, while other groups insisted the protest all officials accountable — not just Duterte.

The tension highlighted divisions among demonstrators even as thousands marched to both mass demonstrations. — With video and reports from Jean Mangaluz; Contributed video of EDSA footage from Jazmin Tabuena