CATHOLIC Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Caloocan Archbishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David warned that corruption will never end unless those responsible were punished.
Meanwhile, the military on Tuesday called on organizers of the projected Nov. 30 rallies to ensure discipline among participants, underscoring that the responsibility for peaceful and lawful conduct rests primarily upon the event leaders.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also reiterated that no military junta exists within its ranks, and affirmed that it will not participate in such exercise.
David issued the warning as he renewed his call for Filipinos to demand accountability from public officials.
David lamented what he described as a worsening culture of dishonesty in government, stressing that real reform cannot happen without consequences for wrongdoing.
“Nothing will change in government if those who should be held accountable are not held to account,” said David, the outgoing president of the CBCP.
He said Filipinos are tired of officials who act like “parasites” feeding on the nation’s lifeblood.
He urged the public to stand firm and declare that “wrong is wrong.”
David criticized the persistence of pork barrel–type allocations, comparing them to “tumors” in the national budget that must be completely extracted. These insertions, he said, are pushed by “shameless politicians” who rely on a system that breeds corruption.
“Corruption should never be normalized,” he added, emphasizing that transparency and integrity are essential to good governance and that public office is a “public trust” that must not be abused.
He warned officials not to betray the people’s confidence.
“Do not destroy the trust of the nation. Let us not allow lies to prevail; only truth should reign,” he said.
David also underscored that the fight against corruption rests not only on institutions but on citizens themselves. Protecting democracy, he said, requires continued vigilance and the collective refusal to tolerate abuses.
The cardinal reiterated his call for broad public participation in the “Trillion Peso March” on Nov. 30, a nationwide protest demanding transparency and accountability in government spending.
Aside from the main rally at the People Power Shrine on EDSA, simultaneous demonstrations are planned in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, and other cities.
In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military will continue to support law enforcement authorities in maintaining public safety, but stressed that organizers play a key role in preventing disorder or violence during rallies.
“We trust the organizers and leaders of these gatherings to guide their members responsibly, observe the rule of law and we call on everyone to stand united in compassion and bayanihan.” Padilla said.
Amid domestic political noise, Padilla said the AFP continues to anchor itself to its constitutional mandate.
“Amid the noise, the AFP remains the country’s steady compass, always pointing to one direction—the Constitution and the Filipino people and constitutional processes,” Padilla said.
“Our chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.] has already clarified this multiple times that there is no such thing as a military junta within the AFP,” Padilla said at a press briefing.
“The AFP will never subscribe to any reset plot and our Constitution has no cheat codes. So we will always go to the side of the Constitution, the constitutional processes that are in place,” she added.
On Sunday, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he got offers to join a “civil-military junta” aiming to remove President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte from office.
The offer was allegedly made by some retired soldiers.
