Why protesters in Philippines called Marcos America's puppet president

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Quezon City on Monday in anti-corruption protests that coincided with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), with police confirming the arrest of 51 people.

Protesters filled sections of Commonwealth Avenue carrying giant effigies of Marcos, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The demonstrators displayed banners calling for increased education funding, higher wages, improved public services and stronger action against corruption.

One installation depicted Marcos as a puppet with a US flag chained around his neck, while police stood behind barricades as officers detained two protesters. Crowds surrounded the vehicle carrying those arrested.

Teodoro "Teddy" Casino, chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), accused the administration of failing to deliver on its promises.

"Four years of the Marcos administration have basically been four years of failed promises. He promised that there will be a 'New Philippines,' that the economy would improve, that we would pursue an independent foreign policy, and that, later on in his administration, corruption would not be tolerated. Unfortunately, the reverse has happened. Our people are experiencing more hardships," he said.

Another protest display featured Trump and Marcos as "Puppet and the Puppet Master", which demonstrators later smashed with hammers.

"As far as foreign policy is concerned, well, the President has decided to become a puppet of the United States and has allowed himself and the country to be used by the United States to contain China, with the effect that we are now as far away from resolving our conflict with China through diplomatic means," Casino added.

Student activist James Barod also criticised the administration.

"Five years of Marcos' presidency, we never saw, or we never see, and we will never see, you know, him giving the benefit or him working for the service of the Filipino people. The only people that he will serve are the imperialists in the United States, as well as the ruling class of the Philippines."

Several banners also rejected Pax Silica, a US-led partnership covering artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals and advanced manufacturing. Protest organisers argued the initiative would deepen the Philippines' economic dependence on the United States, while Washington has said it would attract investment and strengthen manufacturing.

Inside Congress, Marcos defended his administration's record, saying corruption cases had been filed, suspects imprisoned and nearly 25 billion pesos in allegedly illicit assets recovered, frozen or preserved. He also pledged to uphold the Philippines' 2016 South China Sea arbitration award through peaceful and legal means.

Lawyers assisting those detained said 13 of the 51 arrested were minors. Police accused some protesters of vandalism, concealing their identities and violating assembly regulations, while activist groups described the arrests as arbitrary and demanded their release.