What was supposed to be a historic movement against the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. turned into a shameful spectacle of understaffing, confusion, and blame-mongering. Instead of becoming a symbol of a new “People Power,” the rally organized by Congressman Kiko Barzaga became an example of how a movement without clear direction and genuine popular support can collapse.

THE “PEOPLE POWER” WITHOUT PEOPLE

According to reports and live coverage by online commentators like Sangkay Janjan, the rally itself, which promised a “widespread popular uprising,” was almost empty. Despite Barzaga’s strong promotion and statements that “this is the beginning of change,” the actual situation on the ground was the opposite: most of the space was empty, and there were reportedly more media than supporters.

Barzaga’s camp allegedly tried to show on social media that thousands attended — but when netizens checked, it turned out that many of those photos were old, taken from other protests. Real videos from the scene show a few people carrying placards, while others appear to be just passing by. Another comment from Sangkay Janjan:

“If this is People Power, it’s not like it’s just a family day in the barangay. It’s embarrassing.”

FROM RALLY TO CHAOS
Despite the small number, there was still tension between some demonstrators and police. According to reports, some tried to enter a restricted area and shouted slogans against the authorities. Instead of being a peaceful gathering, it ended in heated arguments and some scuffles.

An ironic situation, according to eyewitnesses: a rally supposedly against corruption, but ended in chaos.

THE INTERVIEW THAT BROKE MEMES
One of the most talked about was the interview with Cong. Kiko Barzaga himself. Instead of answering questions calmly, his tone reportedly became violent. According to a reporter, Barzaga seemed angry and kept repeating:

“They do what they want, so we will protest at any time!”

According to viewers, this explanation seems pointless and illogical. One of the viral comments even said: “His saliva is already foaming, but he still doesn’t have a clear point.”

THE REAL MOTIVE: POLITICS, NOT PEOPLE’S FEELINGS

For many observers, this was not a simple people’s rally — it was a “political maneuver.” According to Sangkay Janjan’s analysis, the call for “Marcos Resign” was not an organic or spontaneous grievance of the people, but a planned move to weaken the administration and prepare the position for other politicians.

Many have linked Barzaga’s actions to allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The theory: if Marcos is forced to resign, Vice President Sara Duterte will automatically ascend to the position — a scenario that critics say appears to be the rally’s true purpose.

“If they want change, they should wait for the 2028 elections. People Power cannot be faked,” according to a political analyst.

THE “DDS MENTALITY” AND LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING
Analysts also criticized the so-called “DDS mentality” — the blind obedience to past leaders and the inability to question or doubt. Instead of analyzing, many rally supporters allegedly relied only on emotion and anger, not on data or facts.

According to Sangkay Janjan:

“When you ask for a concrete reason why they want Marcos to resign, they can’t give any. Just anger.”

THE SUSPECT: FOREIGN HANDS BEHIND?
The commentary opens up another worrying possibility: the presence of foreign influence in these actions. According to several reports, including those released by Reuters, there are alleged operations from China that aim to manipulate Filipino opinion against the administration through troll farms and fake news campaigns.

There are fears that personalities like Barzaga may be being used — knowingly or unknowingly — to fuel the conflict within the country. In this way, even if the actual support is small, it is amplified in the online space, giving the appearance of a broad movement.

“Just one click on a troll network can make it look like there’s a revolution,” warns a cybersecurity expert.

THE REAL MESSAGE OF FAILURE
The failure of Barzaga’s so-called “People Power” served as a lesson to many: that not all cries for change are genuine, and not all who claim to be for the people have pure intentions. True People Power is not built on Facebook or the noise of microphones — it comes from the collective hearts of Filipinos, not from the ambition of a few politicians.

As the country watched the collapse of this rally, many noticed that it seemed to be a warning against fake movements used for personal power.

“Not everyone who shouts for victory is a hero. Sometimes, they are also the cause of chaos,” said one commentator.

THE LAST QUESTION: HOW FAKE IS IT?
In the end, the question many still have is: if there are no real people behind Barzaga’s People Power — who, then, is motivating the so-called leaders of the movement?

The answer may be complex, but the lesson is clear: in an era filled with fake news and troll-driven politics, Filipinos need to be more critical. Because sometimes, the loudest cry of “for the people” is also the most slippery trap of deception.