Peaceful Anti-Corruption Protest Held in Cebu City with No Reported Unrest

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, various activist and religious groups gathered in Cebu City to protest against government corruption, commemorating the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law. The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7), led by Brigadier General Redrico Maranan, confirmed that the demonstrations remained peaceful and orderly throughout the event.

Brigadier General Maranan praised the police force for their professionalism and dedication, stating, "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our troops whose professionalism, vigilance, and commitment to duty made this peaceful outcome possible. Your efforts exemplify the highest standards of police service in Central Visayas."

In preparation for the rally, PRO 7 elevated its alert status to full readiness, deploying over 500 police officers from the Civil Disturbance Management unit and Reactionary Standby Support Forces to maintain order. The Cebu City Government also contributed with personnel from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office alongside additional police support.

Police monitored not only Cebu City but also surrounding provinces such as Bohol to ensure demonstrations remained nonviolent.

During the protest, the transport organization Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) filed complaints regarding the apprehension and citation of some of their vehicles. Police Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Andeza, deputy city director for operations, clarified that the Traffic Enforcement Unit and Cebu City Transportation Office were responsible for issuing citations when traffic regulations were violated, regardless of whether vehicles belonged to rally participants or other motorists.

Lieutenant Colonel Andeza emphasized, "If ever rally participants violated traffic ordinances, they will definitely be issued a citation. Since they were cited, that means they committed a traffic violation." He also dismissed allegations that police targeted only rally participants, noting that other motorists were similarly cited for infractions.

Overall, the event concluded without any reports of unrest, underscoring effective coordination between police and local government units to safeguard public safety during large-scale demonstrations.