Since August, reports and inquiries about large-scale corruption in the award of public contracts have taken centre stage in the Philippines. Protests have been held in and around the capital Manila in recent days, with black-clad demonstrators throwing rocks and firebombs at anti-riot police on Sunday (September 21).

More than 200 people were arrested, with around 100 law enforcers injured, according to the Associated Press . A South China Morning Post report quoted official police estimates as saying that at least 61,000 people attended the protests on Sunday.

An unlikely target of the public’s frustration has been the children of government officials and contractors, who are alleged to have benefited from corruption and made lavish displays of their wealth on social media accoun

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