Coinciding with the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law, two nationwide protests, tracing from Rizal Park to the EDSA People Power Monument, drew 100,000 Filipino attendees to denounce the persistent corruption in the government and demand accountability from officials involved. 

Youth groups, NDMOs denounce corruption in Luneta 

Organized primarily by Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na), the “Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon” protest drew over 49,000 students, progressive groups, citizens, and Filipinos from all walks of life. 

Present at the rally were civic organizations, labor unions, student and veteran activists, church groups, bikers, drag performers, and celebrities, marching from Kalaw Avenue to Ma. Oroso Street, then Padre Burgos, before finally gathering at Roxas Boulevard.

Among the organizations present were Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Kalikasan, Gabriela Women’s Partylist, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Health Alliance for Democracy, Bahaghari, and Karapatan. 

Chants ranging from “Makibaka! Wag matakot!” to “Ikulong na ‘yan, mga kurakot” echoed during the march as a call to abolish pork barrel and confidential funds. 

Several placards calling out “nepo babies,” a term used to refer to the children of corrupt political families, along with dogs wearing a “Babala: Nangangagat ng mga Korap!” and protesters wearing earrings featuring journalist Kara David’s birthday wish during a rally in Albay, were showcased during the march. 

Others wore symbolic depictions to protest against the scandalous flood-control projects, such as activist Mae Paner, also known as Juana Change, who wore a costume of a crocodile wading in polluted floodwaters, and a group who marched covered in mud. 

David San Juan, a Tama Na convenor, drew parallels between the Martial Law era, reflected through human rights violations and plunders, “Marami pa ring mga political prisoners — mga pinagbibintangang rebelde kahit na sila ay aktibista lang, kinukulong dahil sa kanilang mga paniniwala. Mala Martial Law pa rin.” 

“Eto, may rally tayo, pinapayagan nila pero ang daming pulis, ‘di ba, so, parang Martial Law pa rin ‘yan, kung tutuusin, medyo toned down lang,” he added. 

San Juan also highlighted the scandalous flood-control controversies which dragged senators and congressmen, “Pero mas malala sa plunder, o sa korapsyon, ‘di ba yung flood control projects, grabe bilyun-bilyong piso ang naakukuhang kickback ng mga senators and congressmen,  so parang panahon pa rin ito ni Marcos Sr… ginagawang negosyo ang pondo ng gobyerno sa halip na gamitin sa serbisyong publiko.” 

He further called for accountability and imprisonment of personalities behind the massive graft, saying, “Tama na, sobra na ang pandarambong sa bayan.” 

Danilo Ramos, chairman of KMP, expressed the impact of corruption in the government on agriculture, particularly on the welfare of farmers.

“Ang pagkain, na dapat ay [aanihin sa] palay, nalubog, nasira… kaya lalong gutom kami, lalong gutom kayo… Ipaglaban ang ating karapatan, palakasin ang lokal na produksyon ng pagkain, hindi importasyon,” he stated.

On the other hand, Gabriela Party-list Representative Sarah Elago highlighted the importance of women’s role in condemning political dynasties and pork barrel funds.

“Mahalaga ‘yung role ng mga palaban na kababaihan na sabihin na tama na ang mga political dynasties, tama na sana yung mga pork [barrel] funds… kung decisive talaga ang administration na ito sa paglaban sa korapsyon, we challenge them to abolish all pork [barrel] funds and end the system of congressional insertions,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Representative Leila De Lima, who referred to the flood-control anomaly as “the biggest corruption in Philippine history,” encouraged protesters to ignite their anger and not allow it to be used by those with “personal interests.” 

“Isa d’yan si Sara Duterte,” she added, to which the people responded with “Ikulong!”

Celebrities such as Jodi Sta. Maria, Angel Aquino, Andrea Brillantes, Elijah Canlas, Maris Rascal, and Tessie Tomas were also present in the program.

Sta. Maria, who was a first-time rally attendee, called on collective effort among Filipinos to fix the broken system, shared, “Dapat ‘wag tayong tumigil. Collectively, may magagawa po tayo… We have to work as a country, tayong lahat… kailangan po na marinig ang boses natin, na gusto nating baguhin ang sistema.” 

Drag performer Pura Luka Vega also added, “Ang korapsyon ay kumakain sa ating dangal, kaligtasan at kinabukasan. May namamatay po dahil sa korapsyon… pero hindi tayo mananahimik, magkakaugnay ang ating pakikibaka.” 

Aside from calls for accountability on corrupt politicians, the program also highlighted the disclosure of statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth, and the signing of bank-secrecy waivers by all government officials. 

According to BAYAN President Renato Reyes, the large turnout proved that Filipinos have had enough and are united, no matter what happens. 

“Natutuwa kami, dahil nga kanya kanyang grupo, kanya kanyang mga indibidwal, pamipamilya, ang nagsasabi na ‘Sasama kami sa Luneta,’ ‘no, mga artista, mga mamahayag… ang ibig sabihin lang no’n, napakalala na ng problema natin, na yung taong bayan, magkakaisa sila, ano man ang mangyari,” Reyes noted. 

“Hindi na nila iisipin ano bang kulay ‘yan, hindi na nila iisipin, sinong nag-organisa niyan, aktibista ba ‘yan. Wala na yung red-tagging, hindi na sila natatakot doon eh. Ang mahalaga for everyone, nandidito sila, they stood up, they were counted, nagging bahagi sila ng kasaysayan,” he added. 

Reyes also assured that this will not be the last time that various groups nationwide will unite for a common cause, “Hindi po ito ang huli, asahan niyo po. Hindi ito ang huling pagkakataong magsasama-sama ang mga grupo dito.” 

While others went home after the program ended by 1 p.m., other groups marched toward Mendiola to join the afternoon protest at EDSA. 

Filipinos mimic People Power in EDSA, demand accountability 

Meanwhile, around 2 p.m. in the afternoon, stretching from the EDSA People Power Shrine to the EDSA People Power Monument, protesters flocked to the massive “Trillion Peso March” rally organized by various group sectors. 

Performances from artists such as Ben&Ben, Noel Cabangon, Jamie Rivera, and Bayang Barrios opened the program before giving way to interfaith prayers led by Christian and Muslim leaders. 

Despite intermittent rain, marchers and motorists echoed the same “Ikulong na yan! Mga kurakot!” chants on the traffic along White Plains Avenue while holding placards that say “Ibalik ang ninakaw, hindi ang magnanakaw” and “Panagutin lahat ng korap!”

Joining the program were Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, senators Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros, and religious leaders like Cardinal Ambo David.   

“‘Yan ang pinakamainam na safeguard sa pang-aabuso sa pwesto — ang taumbayan na kumikilos, naninindigan, at tumataya. Hindi papayag ang ating mga kababayan sa cover-up… na walang mananagot,” Pangilinan expressed, emphasizing that mass mobilization is the strongest check on corruption, 

Present at the rally were also celebrities such as Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Darren Espanto, among others. 

In a bold statement, Vice called for the death penalty for government officials linked to anomalous flood-control projects, “Ibalik ang death penalty sa mga corrupt. Ikulong pati pamilya nila.” 

“Tapos na ang panahon ng mabait at resilient… Hindi natin kakalmahan dahil deserve nila ang galit, poot, at pikon,” the “It’s Showtime” host and Quezon City top taxpayer added. 

She also addressed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., urging him to punish everyone involved, as it is his duty as a public servant elected to serve Filipinos. 

“PBBM, upang magkaroon ng magandang legasiya, ipakulong mo lahat ng magnanakaw. Inaasahan ka namin. Swine-swelduhan ka namin… kami nagpapasahod sa’yo,” she said. 

According to Kiko Aquino Dee, co-convenor of Tindig Pilipinas, a rough estimate of 60,000 to 70,000 attendees joined the EDSA protest, to which he said the numbers expressed Filipinos’ disgust with the corruption of the government, adding, “Wala tayong sinasanto. Duterte man yan, Marcos.”

Protests ripple outside Manila

Beyond the capital, protests across the country, such as in Angeles City, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Cebu, and Dumaguete, were also held in solidarity with Manila to condemn corruption in the government. 

Before this, students, faculty, and staff across state universities in the country, such as the University of the Philippines Los Banos, Diliman, Manila, and Bulacan State University, also conducted a walkout protest. 

To recall, congressional probes revealed irregularities that allegedly siphoned off more than nearly 1.9 trillion pesos allocated for flood-control projects over the past 15 years. 

In response, Marcos Jr., on September 11, signed Executive Order No. 94, which formed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as an “investigative arm,” tasked with reviewing complaints related to flood-control and infrastructure projects, which dragged some senators and congressmen into the corruption scandal. 

Nationwide rallies have been conducted over such anomalies, as Filipinos call for an end to persistent corruption and demand accountability from government officials involved.