PUBLIC outrage against massive corruption in government infrastructure, specifically flood control projects, is driving the so-called Trillion Peso March to be held this Sunday, Sept. 21. The date also coincides with the declaration of martial law 53 years ago.
Various groups – from the religious sector, the academe, politics and civil society — are leading and participating in the mobilizations that would be held at the EDSA People Power Monument and at Luneta Park in Manila.
The palpable anger was occasioned by the revelations that collusion between public works officials, politicians, and private contractors caused the construction of substandard – in some cases, nonexistent – flood-control projects, with the bulk of the money being lost to corruption.
Hearings in both Houses of Congress have etched the image of mounds of cash on an office table, or a fleet of luxury cars, alongside the image of ordinary Filipinos suffering from devastation and displacement or wading through floodwater.
Subsequent investigations by the just-created Independent Committee on Infrastructure will certainly unearth more secrets – evidence-driven, actionable secrets.
There have been reports that Sunday’s indignation rally could be used to advance causes by other groups, specifically those demanding that the former president incarcerated in The Hague for crimes against humanity be sent home owing to his old age and precarious health. Because we are in a democracy, they would be within their rights to advocate what they believe in – we just hope, for their sake, that this is not something they blindly and unquestioningly embrace.
But they will have no place in Sunday’s gathering.
Let us be mindful and deliberate: Sunday’s Trillion-peso March is about a singular cause: to hold officials accountable for their deeds, and to let our leaders know that this anger is not going away until we see concrete measures to institutionalize and implement anti-corruption measures.
History bears out that while Filipinos could be forgiving, could have a short memory, or could be slow to anger, our outrage is our compass. This, then, is our declaration: woe to the lying, stealing, doublespeaking politicians who swore to act on our best interests but believe they could get away doing the exact opposite.
