On a day that was supposed to be a peaceful expression of the people’s feelings, Mendiola was rocked by an incident of rioting that touched the national conversation. A group of individuals wearing black masks and bonnets spread terror, caused violence, and seemed to have a deeper agenda than was on display. But the biggest shocker was the revelation: they were funded and organized by powerful individuals with the goal of ousting President Bongbong Marcos from office. The case opened a deep investigation that exposed collusion and manipulation at the heart of politics.

According to the video and reports, the riot in Mendiola on September 22, 2025 was not a spontaneous act. In fact, there are videos that prove that the members of the group were paid. In one video, a voice can be heard saying, “We’ve been paid, let’s go home!” indicating that their presence comes at a price. This proves that there is an “organizer” and “financier” behind the group, whose real intention is to create trouble, and not to fight corruption as claimed by other legitimate rallyists.

Initial reports, including the statement of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, point to a “former Filipino-Chinese politician and a lawyer” as the ones who funded the youths who rioted. According to Moreno, this did not come from within the youths but rather someone actually “manipulated” and “ordered” them. Moreno also revealed that the rioters who were caught were “foreigners” from various areas in Metro Manila, such as Taguig, Pasay, Parañaque, Caloocan, and Quezon City, proving that someone “organized” them.

The mystery deepened when a report emerged from “Ka Eric,” linking the group that rioted in Mendiola to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA)-National Democratic Front (NDF). According to Ka Eric, the CPP-NPA-NDF, through their youth and students bureau, recruited youth from the communities of Tondo, Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela. They even imitated the name of their group, “Kabataan Kontra Kabataan, Bangon sa Baha, Bangon Kontra Korapsyon,” which was a project of the CPP to build a wide alliance network of various youth organizations. For Ka Eric, the CPP-NPA used the unrest to carry out their plan to oust President Bongbong Marcos from the government.

But there is also a different version from the Philippine National Police (PNP). According to the PNP, the group that rioted were “hip hop gangsters” influenced by a rapper. The various theories present a complex situation, but what is clear is that there was a deliberate plan to disrupt the protest day and the goal was to “unseat President Bongbong Marcos from office.”

The violence by the black-masked group was not limited to Mendiola. The video also revealed the vandalism of Hotel Sogo in Recto, where windows were broken and there were reports of money being looted. Photos of the money being distributed that surfaced on social media further added to the controversy, as it was unclear whether it came from the looted Hotel Sogo or from funds provided by “financiers.”

The speaker in the video strongly condemned these acts. He compared the rioters to “gunggongs” and denounced their attempt to disrupt Mendiola. For him, the choice of Mendiola was because they wanted to “enter Malacañang.” He also expressed surprise at their fighting with the police instead of encouraging the support of the military and police, which was necessary to bring down the government. He emphasized that the military and police still support President Marcos, especially since the President himself has exposed several corruption issues.

The statement ends with a challenge to President Marcos to uphold his investigation and ensure that someone is held accountable, whether a senator or a congressman, or any government official. If no one is imprisoned or held accountable, what is the point of all the investigations? The message is clear: the people need true justice. The frustration with corruption was also heard in Vice Ganda’s statements, who strongly denounced the thieves of the public treasury.

The Mendiola incident is a watershed moment in Philippine politics, exposing the dark game of power, manipulation, and the never-ending fight against corruption. It raises the question of how long the people will continue to be victims of the conspiracies of those behind the chaos, and when will there be true accountability for those who abuse their power.