Thousands of Filipinos gathered in streets across the nation on Sunday, September 21 to protest the billion flood control projects in the country.
Dubbed as the “Trillion Peso March,” thousands of people across the Philippines joined a peaceful rally to condemn the grave corruption in the government, leading to the suffering of the Filipinos.
The “Trillion Peso March” coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Who joined the rallies?
Despite intermittent rain in the afternoon, participants of the peaceful rallies remained undeterred.
Numerous organizations, sectoral groups, celebrities, and even first-time protesters gathered at two key sites in Manila – Rizal Park and the People Power Monument along EDSA, the historic location where Marcos Sr. was ousted in 1986.
Demonstrations also took place outside Metro Manila, all calling for accountability from those in power.
Protesters carried banners, placards, and tarpaulins condemning widespread corruption.
To express neutrality, some wore white, while others donned black to symbolize their belief that the government is “as rotten as a grave.”
Addressing the crowd at the EDSA rally, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said that many Filipinos have fallen into the trap of corruption but can still choose to repent.
He called on implicated officials and contractors to come forward and redeem themselves.
Celebrities also joined the protests, voicing their anger and demanding the imprisonment of corrupt individuals.
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Public outrage
Public outrage erupted following revelations that billions of pesos intended for flood control projects were instead funneled into the pockets of Department of Public Works and Highways officials, lawmakers, and contractors through kickbacks and fictitious projects.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. first exposed the issue during his State of the Nation Address in July, highlighting that many flood-control initiatives had become hotbeds of corruption.
Watchdog groups estimate that from 2023 to 2025, at least PHP118.5 billion was lost to these ghost infrastructure projects.
In response, the government has launched multiple investigations into the scandal.
As awareness of corruption grows, Filipinos are refusing to be silenced, boldly demanding accountability from the government, justice for all, and the rightful use of their hard-earned taxes for the true progress of the nation – not the enrichment of a privileged few.
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