“The TPMM rally organizers are correct in saying ‘We must choose a path forward that strengthens the democratic forces, not play into the hands of political opportunists’”
We fully support the Trillion Peso March Part 2 that takes place on Sunday, Nov. 30, at the People Power Monument along EDSA to ventilate popular outrage over the multibillion-peso flood control scam.
This protest action is spearheaded by the Trillion Peso March Movement (TPPM), a Catholic Church-led broad coalition of religious groups, civil society and sectoral organizations, political formations and other moderate circles seeking a peaceful end to large-scale official corruption and holding accountable those responsible for the flood control scandal, including top officials and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
TPMM stalwarts have invited the faithful to join the upcoming rally not to call for President Marcos Jr.’s resignation, but to appeal to hold accountable all those involved in the alleged kickbacks in anomalous, substandard and “ghost” or non-existent flood control projects.
Caritas Philippines president and Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo and Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes have rejected calls for extra-legal or unconstitutional action.
They stressed their position is for Filipinos to confront corruption head-on and “demand justice, transparency and accountability.”
“Our advocacy is clear. The Trillion Peso March is not to bring down the regime. We are not calling for the resignation of our (corrupt) national officials, but for them to be jailed, and to return the funds they have stolen,” said Bagaforo.
“We don’t support any forces calling for a military junta, revolutionary government or similar actions. In other words, we adhere to the call of the Constitution that we should follow democratic processes.”
For these Church leaders, a leadership transition is not the solution, adding that there “should not simply be a change of guards, but a change in the system.”
What the TPMM leaders stopped short of saying is that the extra-constitutional route is a cure worse than the disease, as military adventurism or a violent takeover of the government will turn the Philippines into a banana republic, leading to an irreversible freefall that will negate the country’s post-COVID growth momentum as one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
The TPMM organizers are wary of the nefarious agenda of former President Rodrigo Duterte-Sara Duterte loyalists in pursuing “Baha sa Luneta 2.0,” so much so that they have vowed to exercise vigilance over possible “hijacking” efforts by the Duterte camp and/or the ragtag group of military retirees fancying themselves as putschists.
In their press briefing, TPMM leaders said they will thwart efforts from Duterte supporters or the military to attempt to destabilize the government, saying that “… definitely no Duterte, nor an unelected junta, can represent our anger and hope.”
“The Dutertes must never be allowed to hijack our movement and wash their blood-stained hands.
“We also warn against undemocratic calls for military intervention towards installing an unelected junta or revolutionary government,” the TPMM stressed.
The TPMM rally organizers are correct in saying that, “We must choose a path forward that strengthens the democratic forces, not play into the hands of political opportunists.”
Separately, CBCP president Cardinal Pablo David has reiterated his support for the convergence of church and civil society groups in the current movement against largescale corruption, which, he said, must be stopped and for those responsible for the flood control controversy to be held accountable.
However, David, in pushing for accountability and transparency, has reminded Filipinos to choose the path of non-violence, Constitutional order, and peaceful democratic participation. “Pag mayroong pag-amin, pagsisisi at pagsasauli ay mas madaling lumago ang tunay na pagpapatawad,” he said.
The TPMM is on the right track in calling for Constitutional and legal processes to take their due course, given that there has been positive progress at this point in the government’s efforts to run after the flood control scammers from the time President Marcos Jr. himself exposed this issue in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.
In video statements posted on his official social media pages, President Marcos Jr. ordered all findings of the DPWH and the fact-finding body Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) involving even his cousin, resigned Speaker Martin Romualdez, and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, to be handed over to the Office of the Ombudsman for formal investigation.
The ICI probe is expected to expand in the weeks ahead with at least 1,200 individuals to face criminal prosecution for their involvement in alleged kickback schemes linked to at least 80 anomalous flood control projects done by notorious contractors identified by President Marcos Jr. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
