THE NATIONWIDE Sept. 21 protests against massive corruption in flood-control projects has sparked renewed interest in the “people power” narrative of non-violent reform.
Organized by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na), the “Baha sa Luneta” morning protest at Luneta (Rizal) Park in Manila denounced widespread siphoning of government funds by lawmakers and public works officials.
Protests also took place in provinces such as Bulacan and Cebu, which ranked first and second, respectively, among provinces with the most flood-control projects in the country.
People also gathered at the historic EDSA Shrine in the afternoon for what was dubbed the “Trillion Peso March,” following the 2013 “Million People March” that decried the misuse of pork barrel funds.
Among the attendees at the Luneta march were members of the Christian clergy, including the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) and the United Methodist Church.
“It’s not political. This is a stand for the gospel,” said Fr. Angel Cortez, OFM, co-executive secretary of the CMSP.
“Maraming nagtatanong, ‘Bakit nangingialam ang Simbahan?’ Kung papakinggan natin ang ebanghelyo: ‘Huwag ka magnakaw, huwag kang manlalamang,’” he said.
The Philippine Church has a history of galvanizing social movements.
During the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin called on the laity to protect rebel forces and join protests that eventually overthrew the regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr..
With the country now under the toppled strongman’s son Ferdinand Jr., the Church aims to peacefully denounce widespread government corruption.
“Noong panahon ng EDSA, talagang lumabas sa mga kumbento ang mga laiko. Pwede naman ang mapayapang pagtugon para ipakita na tayo ay tutol sa ginawa ng diktadurya noon at ginagawa ng gobyerno ngayon,” Cortez told the Varsitarian.
The CMSP, joined by the Catholic faithful, offered Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral before uniting with the main protest at Luneta.
According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the government allocated P545 billion in over 9,000 flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson has linked the Department of Public Works and Highways, bids and awards committees, and the Commission on Audit to corruption, with funding for projects barely reaching 40 percent of the original budget.
“The gravity of the flood control anomalies is almost equivalent to the gravity of the plunder that the Marcoses did before,” said Karl Suyat, co-founder of archival organization Project Gunita.
The Luneta protest was followed by a march to Mendiola, where tensions flared between rallyists and law enforcement.
The Trillion Peso March against corruption at EDSA coincided with the mobilization at the Mendiola Peace Arch, the historical site of protests close to the gates of Malacañang.
Youth join protests
Central Student Council president Annie Agon said the Sept. 21 protests had no political association.
“Hindi ito araw ng mga Duterte at ng Marcos, kung hindi, araw ito ng paniningil ng taong bayan sa mga politiko,” Agon said.
Supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte staged their own demonstrations against the current administration, advocating for his return from detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he faces a charge of crimes against humanity.
Supporters of the former president gathered outside Camp Aguinaldo but also staged a protest at Liwasang Bonifacio in the morning.
“Sa mga kababayan natin na nandoon sa Liwasang Bonifacio, huwag na. Hindi si Duterte ang lulutas ng problema na kinapapakinabangan niya rin,” Suyat said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
For Faculty of Civil Law lecturer and lawyer Antonio La Viña, the call for change and accountability rests in the youth’s hands.
“[The protest] is led by the youth, and I trust the youth that they will bring this to a good conclusion, planning for change in our country,” La Viña said.
Keziah Landicho, a junior creative writing student, said she and her fellow students would build on the momentum of the protests to demand change.
“If there’s no change, then we’ll just continue protesting. It will only stop once everyone is satisfied,” Landicho said.
Earlier on Sept. 13, some Thomasians joined a protest denouncing flood control corruption organized by Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon at the EDSA People Power Monument.
READ: Thomasian youth groups join rally vs. flood control corruption | The Varsitarian
Misha Lao, Senior High School Student Council president, said the government must remember who really holds power.
“Kaya din natin silang patumbahin kung tayo ay magtutulong-tulong. Hindi lang sa kanila ang kapangyarihan. Dapat sila ang nagsisilbi sa atin,” Lao said.
The nationwide protests coincided with the 53rd anniversary of Marcos Sr.’s declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, 1972.
