Safety alert issued by Chinese Embassy in Philippines Photo: screenshot from the embassy

Thousands are expected to join protests across Manila on Sunday in response to corruption involving flood control anomalies in government, prompting the Chinese Embassy, as well as embassies of other countries in the Philippines to issue safety alerts for potential unrest and traffic disruptions ahead of the protests.

According to the report by The Philippine Star on Sunday, in the capital of the Philippines, demonstrators have begun gathering at Luneta Park, led by students and progressive groups. Others are convening at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City for the "Trillion Peso March" in the afternoon.

The rallies came amid widespread anger over revelations of anomalies in flood control infrastructure projects. Congressional probes have found irregularities that allegedly siphoned off more than half of the money allocated to flood control over the past 15 years, the report said.

More than 30,000 people are expected to join the "Trillion Peso March" on Sunday, according to the report by The Manila Times.

Regarding the large-scale protests and demonstrations expected in multiple places on Sunday, the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in the Philippines reminded Chinese nationals in the country on Saturday night to heighten their safety awareness and avoid going out whenever possible. 

For those who must travel, the embassy advised them to plan transportation carefully, stay away from protest areas and crowded places, pay attention to traffic restrictions caused by gatherings, and always carry valid identification to ensure personal safety, the embassy said.

The Australian Embassy in the Philippines on the same day also warned its citizens of potential violence, while the US and French embassies issued advisories urging avoidance of areas with demonstrations and large gatherings due to possible risks ahead of the September 21 rallies.

Protests were also staged across several provinces. The Philippine National Police said it is deploying 50,000 personnel nationwide to maintain safety and order during the demonstrations, per the report by The Philippine Star.

Global Times