With no less than President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. declaring he is on their side, Filipinos from various sectors—including religious and youth groups—announced on Monday several large-scale protests scheduled on September 21 to demand an end to the vicious cycle of corruption plaguing the nation.
In his formal introduction of the members of the newly-formed Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), Marcos acknowledged the indignation the general public has felt over the past few weeks following his exposure of multimillion anomalous flood control projects.
For this reason, President Marcos said he does not blame and might even join the protesters, who had every right to express their outrage and disappointment against those accused of stealing public funds.
“Do you blame them for going out into the streets? If I [weren’t] President, I might be out in the streets with them,” he said when asked about the protests set for September 21. “Of course, they are enraged, they are angry—I’m angry. We should all be angry because what is happening is not right.”
The rallies—led by civil society groups, labor unions, faith-based and student organizations—are expected to draw thousands to the streets of Metro Manila and other urban centers.
Organizers said the demonstrations will highlight allegations of massive kickbacks, ghost projects, and rigged bidding in public works contracts—issues now under investigation by the ICI.
Asked whether the rallies could snowball into uprisings similar to those seen in Nepal or Indonesia, President Marcos said such scenarios would only happen “if we don’t do anything about it.” He added he shares the public’s frustration over the corruption allegations that prompted him to form the ICI.
“You have to remember: I brought this up and it is my interest that we find a solution to what has become a very egregious problem,” Mr. Marcos told reporters.
President Marcos encouraged Filipinos to voice their sentiments against those implicated in the alleged schemes, but underscored the need for demonstrations to remain orderly, warning that police officers are duty-bound to maintain peace and order if the rallies turn violent.
“Express it. You come, you make your feelings known to these people. Make them answerable for the wrongdoings that they have done. Let them know your sentiments, scream, do everything—demonstrate, just keep it peaceful,” he said.
“To show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, to show that you want fairness—what’s wrong with that? I want to show that there is justice…. fairness… I want to hold these people accountable just like they do. So, I don’t blame them—not one bit,” President Marcos emphasized.
Representatives from the Church, youth groups, and various sectors urged Filipinos to join the September 21 protest against corruption at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City and Luneta Park in Manila.
They denounced how the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was reduced to a “theater of corruption,” where taxpayers’ money is allegedly wasted to fund the lavish lifestyles and gambling addiction of some individuals.
The groups also called for accountability of those involved in alleged anomalies in flood control projects and demanded the return of ill-gotten wealth to the public coffers.
Members of the church, political parties, universities, civil society, youth and students’ groups as well lawmakers and retired military and police personnel pledged to attend the protests.
These include organizations such as the Church Leaders Council for National Transformation, Akbayan Partylist, 1Sambayan, UP Alyansa, among others.
TAMA NA (Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance) Convenor David San Juan outlined several demands, including the removal and prosecution of all officials allegedly involved in anomalous infrastructure projects “from Duterte to Marcos.”
The group also called for the abolition of pork barrel funds and confidential and intelligence funds, the public release of Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of all government officials along with bank account waivers, and the blacklisting of contractors linked to corruption.
Other demands include posting all government bidding documents and contracts online for public scrutiny, making congressional budget deliberations fully transparent, and ending political dynasties.
“We call on the Filipino people to join in the growing call for accountability in every part of the Philippines. Let this be the moment that we finally overcome the plague of corruption in our country,” the groups said.
The scheduled mass demonstrations coincide with the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, a date that has historically been marked by various political protests against recurring social issues nationwide.
