Despite being drenched in sweat and wearing a red shirt, a man caught attention with his plea: “Ibaba ang presyo ng fishball” during the anti-corruption rally on September 21.
Dubbed the “Fishball Warrior” or “Tusok-Tusok King,” Alvin Karingal was recently released after spending over a week in custody at the Manila Police District.
But what message does his bold call send to the public, earning him the title “Long live the king” on social media after his release?
A video showed Karingal urging the reduction of prices for local street foods, sparking mixed reactions from social media users.
“Ibaba ang presyo ng fishball,” he said on the video.
“Ibaba ang presyo ng kikiam, fishball, tokneneng, kwek-kwek, calamares,” he added, while fisting his hand in the air.
@colfurst Ibalik sa piso dalawa ang fishball🇵🇭🗣️ #lunetapark #ParaSaBayan #rally #Rally2025 #protesta ♬ original sound – Colfurst
Some users mocked Karingal for his seemingly trivial plea, especially amid the rally’s call to condemn corrupt individuals.
However, others interpreted his appeal as a deeper message, highlighting how corruption has contributed to inflation and other struggles faced by Filipinos.
“This might be funny, but this is deep. [T]he prices of street food are getting expensive, the tax we pay [is] getting higher, but the salary is not going up,” an online user commented on a TikTok post showing Karingal’s plea.
“I don’t get why some people are making fun of what he said. Clearly, those foods used to be accessible sa masa, yet dahil sa inflation, nagmahal. Bakit may inflation? Dahil may mga corrupt,” another said.
Already reigning
The “Tusok-Tusok King” has been participating in protests long before the Trillion Peso March rally, according to some online users.
A TikTok user shared that she spotted Karingal during the 2023 Labor Day protest.
In the recent election, Karingal also ran for Manila City mayor, alongside 10 other candidates, including incumbent now Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. Running as an independent, he placed 10th, receiving around 500 votes. His campaign centered on advocating for climate change action.
Where is he now?
Lawyer Maria Sol Taule announced in a Facebook post that Karingal has been released.
“Malaya na si Alvin matapos ang isang linggong ilegal na pagkakakulong,” the lawyer said on September 30.
Videos circulating on social media showing Karingal’s arrest by authorities raised concerns about his safety and well-being.
He had been detained at the Manila Police District since September 21, following outbreaks of violence during rallies in Manila. A total of 216 individuals, including 91 minors, with the youngest being just nine years old, were held in custody.
Meanwhile, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) criticized the Philippine National Police for claiming that no protesters were “tortured, abused, or maltreated,” insisting instead that their needs and comfort were attended to.
“These are all barefaced lies,” NUPL said, while mentioning the struggles of both families and volunteers in reaching out to the arrested individuals in the past few days.
The group also stated that persons with disabilities (PWDs) who participated in the protest were not exempt from detention.
Karapatan, an alliance advocating for human rights protection, reported that Karingal and another PWD sustained injuries during police interrogation.
In a previous Facebook post, Taule shared that, according to Alvin’s mother, he has a mental health condition.
Taule also called on Mayor Isko Moreno to be held accountable for his actions against the protesters, particularly for accusing children of committing crimes.
As of October 1, Karapatan reported that at least 70 individuals remained in detention at the Manila Police District and other stations in the city.
