Palace says it respects protesters, but warns vs foul language

Composite photo of TV host Vice Ganda participating at the “Trillion Peso March” demonstrations against corruption on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro conducting a briefing with journalists on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
Vice Ganda via FB; The STAR

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MANILA, Philippines — A day after thousands of Filipinos joined the Trillion Peso March to denounce deep-seated corruption, the Palace reminded protesters of their responsibility to set a good example for the youth.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the Marcos Jr. administration respects the people’s freedom of expression, including the use of curse words in protest calls, but stressed demonstrators must still set a good example.

“Sa iilan gumamit ng foul language, nirerespeto ang inyong karapatan magpahayag pero may responsibilidad din kayong maging magandang ehemplo lalo na sa kabataan,” she said at a press briefing on Monday, September 22,

(For those who used foul language, your right to express yourselves is respected, but you also have a responsibility to set a good example, especially for the youth.)

Castro added that fighting for what is right should be done through proper means and in accordance with the law.

“Ipinaglalaban natin ang tama. Idaan natin sa paraang tama,” she said. (We are fighting for what is right. Let’s do it in the right way.)

Calls from a top taxpayer

During yesterday’s mass protest against corruption and in remembrance of Martial Law victims, TV host and top taxpayer Vice Ganda spoke before around 100,000 people at the People Power Monument, cursing corrupt officials and earning loud cheers from the crowd.

Taking the stage, he delivered a blunt message to public officials who have stolen taxpayers’ money, those who turned a blind eye, abetted the theft or covered it up. He said the people had only one thing to tell them: “P*t*ng*n* niyo!”

Vice, who is reportedly one of the top celebrity taxpayers in the country, then challenged President Bongbong Marcos to jail all thieves in government if he wants to set his legacy as president.

“Kung gusto mo magkaroon ng magandang legasiya ang pangalan mo, ipakulong mo lahat ng magnanakaw!” he said.

(If you want your name to have a good legacy, jail all the thieves!)

“Inaasahan ka namin hindi dahil sa idol ka namin, kundi dahil sinusuwelduhan ka namin at inaasahan namin na tutuparin mo ang inuutos naming mga employer mo! Kami ang naagpapasahod sa inyo!” he added.

(We expect from you not because you’re our idol, but because we pay your salary and expect you to fulfill the duties we, your employers, demand. We are the ones who pay you.)

Aside from Vice, other protesters carried placards and creative statements, some of which contained curse words.

Why Filipinos are protesting 

September 21 not only marked the 53rd anniversary of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of Martial Law, but also became a platform for multi-sectoral groups to declare “enough is enough.”

The last straw? Worsening floods, ghost projects and allegations of kickbacks involving public officials.

Rallies were held all throughout September 21 at Luneta in Manila, the EDSA Shrine, and the People Power Monument.

Some, however, turned violent in Mendiola, where even minors wearing black masks were seen throwing rocks and molotov cocktails against the police.