Protests against Rodrigo Duterte
Protests against Former President Rodrigo Duterte ran from 2016 through 2022. They initially escalated on November 18, 2016, following Duterte's support of the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos. The series of protests were mostly conducted by progressive groups and other opposition figures mainly due to the ongoing war on drugs, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, and employment issues such as contractual terms being applied by companies and inflation due to the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. Other causes of the protests included the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and the shutdown and franchise denial of ABS-CBN.
Causes of the protests
War on drugs, extrajudicial killings, and other police-related controversies
Duterte began the war against illegal drugs in the country the moment he began his presidency, promising to kill thousands of people involved in the drug trade. During the course of the drug war, more than 6,000 mostly petty drug users and suspects have been killed during police anti-drug operations. The killings have garnered attention from human rights groups, Western governments, and U.N. rights experts. Protests against the war on drugs, such as one done by Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap in front of Camp Crame, have been conducted as early as August 2016. Despite the deaths in the campaign, Duterte's popularity in opinion polls remained high. In September 2016, the University of the Philippines Carillon Tower bells were played to mark the beginning of protests by various groups that included LGBT Bahaghari, UP Diliman Center for Women's and Gender Studies, the University Student Council, Stop the Killings Network, GABRIELA, Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, and Karapatan.A coalition named "Manlaban sa EJK" was formed by lawyers, teachers, and law students in November 2017.
Aside from the war on drugs and extrajudicial killings, there have been forced disappearances under the Duterte administration. with at least 50 cases of enforced disappearance as of August 30, 2020. Forced disappearances are commemorated every All Saints' Day by relatives – many of whom have been grieving since the Arroyo administration. According to the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, there have been 1,993 cases of forced disappearances since Marcos regime.
The death toll from the war on drugs varies: officials claim that the number of those killed has reached 5,779, but opposition leaders and human rights workers assert that more than 27,000 have been killed.
In March 2025, following the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, Rise Up for Life and for Rights held a protest action in Manila and artist group Resbak held a gathering in Quezon City in support of families of victims of extrajudicial killings.
Killings of delos Santos, Arnaiz and de Guzman
The most notable case of youth casualties during the campaign is the killing of a 17-year-old student, Kian Loyd delos Santos, from Caloocan, on August 16, 2017, at the hands of the police. The incident sparked controversy among local politicians and militant groups and triggered massive protest in the country. Within two days, two more teenagers, Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, were killed. Arnaiz, a 19-year-old teenager, last found in Cainta, Rizal, was tortured and shot dead on August 17 by police after allegedly robbing a taxi in Caloocan. His 14-year-old friend, Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman was stabbed to death 30 times and thrown into a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Along with the deaths of Kian delos Santos, the deaths of the two teenagers also triggered public outrage and condemnation.Death of River Nasino
River Nasino died in a Manila hospital after suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome while her mother Reina Mae Nasino was detained for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. A 23-year-old human rights worker, Nasino and two other activists were arrested in Tondo, Manila, on November 5, 2019, and they were detained at the Manila City Jail for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, a non-bailable offense. After the court gave the detainee only six hours of furlough to allow her to visit her daughter's wake, a funeral for the baby River was laid on October 14, 2020, in Pandacan, Manila and she was buried on October 16, 2020, at Manila North Cemetery, with the police forces being deployed at the area. The baby's death sparked sympathy while the condemnation targeted towards the treatment of Reina Nasino during the baby's funeral and burial, ranging from activists to local celebrities. A simple protest was held on October 17, 2020, to condemn the circumstances of the mother-and-daughter.Paniqui, Tarlac, shooting incident
Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca shot to death his two unarmed neighbors, Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank, in Paniqui, Tarlac, on December 20, 2020, at 5:10 pm. The incident was reported to the police 20 minutes later and, at 6:19 pm, Nuezca surrendered at the police station in Pangasinan.The incident started when Nuezca went to investigate the Gregorios who were shooting a boga–an improvised bamboo cannon used as a noisemaker every December. Nuezca tried to arrest Frank, who appeared to be drunk. This led to a heated argument with Sonya, which culminated in Nuezca killing the two by shooting them at close range. According to Police Colonel Renante Cabico, director of the Tarlac Provincial Police Office, Nuezca was "off duty" at the time of the incident. The police called the incident an "isolated case."
The incident was captured on video and spread online. Several netizens and celebrities condemned the killings on social media with the hashtags #StopTheKillingsPH, #EndPoliceBrutality, #PulisAngTerorista, and #JusticeForSonyaGregorio dominating on Twitter in the Philippines, as well as in Singapore and Dubai. Some critics also pointed at the government over the acts of impunity and human rights abuses in recent years.
An indignation rally was done by numerous groups on December 21, 2020, at the Boy Scout Circle, Quezon City.
Lumad killings and attacks on Lumad schools
Lumad communities contend with extrajudicial killings and red-tagging. Defenders of Indigenous land rights, environmentalists, and human rights activists have also been harassed. Lumad students joined protests at Duterte's 2017 State of the Nation Address to condemn attacks on Lumad schools and the military occupation of their communities. Demonstrations were also held to protest the killing of Mindanao indigenous people, the killing of Lumad school teacher Chad Booc, and martial law in Mindanao.Burial of Ferdinand Marcos
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Duterte supported the burial of late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig. On November 8, 2016, the Supreme Court permitted Marcos' burial in a 9–5–1 vote. Marcos was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 18.Phasing out of jeepneys
drivers staged a series of protest and strike actions nationwide to oppose the government's plan to phase out old and dilapidated jeepneys. On October 18, 2017, Duterte taunted the protesting drivers, daring them to quit and "suffer in poverty and hunger" if they cannot modernize their old jeepneys. However, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chair Martin Delgra explained the next day that Duterte's call was only his "expression of urgency." Its proposal of jeepney modernization will affect 240,000 jeepneys and 80,000 UV Express.In January 2018, the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic began apprehending dilapidated and smoke-belching jeepneys in an operation called "Tanggal Usok, Tanggal Bulok". This made getting a ride home difficult for commuters, especially students. Commuters expressed on social media their frustration getting stranded due to the apprehension of jeepneys.
The total phaseout of jeepneys was set to be implemented on July 1, 2020, only to be extended to December 31, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and further extended to March 31, 2021. The LTFRB stated that jeepney operators who had failed to consolidate their fleets for the modernization program by the March 2021 deadline will be allowed to temporarily operate under a provisional authority for 1 year.
Declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the subsequent extension
Duterte declared martial law in the whole Mindanao on May 23, 2017, following the crisis in Marawi between Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups. Martial law was extended three times.Proposed revolutionary government
In October 2017, Duterte said that he would declare a revolutionary government against the supposed conspirator of destabilizing the government made by the communist rebels, Liberals and other factions. He said to the media that "'Pag ang ''destablization ninyo patagilid na at medyo magulo na'', I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term." The next month, he clarified that he would only declare a revolutionary government if "things go out of control." Should the revolutionary government declared, "he would order the security forces to arrest all destabilizers and go on a full-scale war against communist rebels."On the last week of August 2020, several Duterte supporters revived the calls for revolutionary government amid the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. President Duterte himself denied the involvement of pushing the revolutionary government.
Planned revocation of Rappler
On January 11, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines revoked Rappler's certificate of incorporation over Rappler's use of Philippine Depository Receipts. It said that the provisions of the PDR issued to Omidyar Network by Rappler gave the American investment firm control over the local media firms' other PDR holders as well as its corporate policies, which the SEC says is a violation of the Constitution's provisions on foreign ownership and control. Rappler claimed that it was 100% Filipino owned and that Omidyar only invests in the media firm. Despite the certificate revocation, SEC stated that Rappler could still operate since their decision was not final, pointing out that the media firm could also challenge the decision before the Court of Appeals within 15 days. Malacañang Palace also suggested that Rappler authors can still continue to publish on their website as bloggers. On February 28, Omidyar Network donated its Rappler PDRs to the editors and executives of Rappler.On February 13, 2019, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was arrested by National Bureau Investigation for cyber libel upon the orders of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46, "alleged that her right to due process was violated." Ressa is known for her criticism against Duterte's war on drugs. The arrest of Ressa sparked condemnations from the international journalists and local groups, who slammed the Duterte administration by saying that the action is "clearly part of the administration's attack on press freedom." Duterte denied his involvement of her arrest.