Smoke, Tension Rise in Mendiola Clash
The air at Mendiola Bridge turned thick with smoke and tension on Sunday as masked rioters dressed in black clashed with police in a volatile standoff just steps from the road to Malacañan Palace.
From a distance, Philippine flags rippled in the crowd, but alongside them rose a black banner marked with the iconic Straw Hat Jolly Roger of One Piece—a striking emblem in a scene already brimming with unrest.
Shouts were drowned out by the pounding of stones against shields, each impact echoing across the bridge. Flames consumed a trailer, its dark plumes towering above the historic site as rioters tried to torch another vehicle. The sharp scent of burning fuel mixed with the wail of sirens, creating a haze of disorder.
Waves of people surged forward. Some lifted flags defiantly; others hurled debris toward police barricades. Even young faces, hidden beneath masks, could be seen among the chaos.
At the frontlines, a scuffle erupted. Officers wrestled a masked man to the ground, dragging him away as his companions scattered before regrouping. Shields clashed against stone, as police pushed back, momentarily dispersing the crowd before new skirmishes reignited.
By the time the confrontation eased, around 10 rioters had been arrested. Police officers emerged with minor injuries, but the question of who had fueled the unrest remained unanswered.
The bridge, long a symbol of political protest, once again bore witness to fire, fury, and defiance—a clash between authority and anger that left its mark on Mendiola’s storied pavement.
