Over 200 groups to protest flood control corruption on Sept. 21

Metro Manila, Philippines - Hundreds of groups vowed to take the streets on Sunday, Sept. 21, to call out hundreds of millions lost in corruption in flood control projects.

Organizers said two protest actions will take place on Sunday: one in the morning at Luneta Park in Manila, and in the afternoon at the historic EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Dubbed “A Trillion Peso March Against Corruption,” the afternoon protest will be led by church groups, civil society and youth organizations, and a number of political parties. Lawmakers from the Akbayan party-list are also expected to join the action.

In a press statement, the groups said they will demand justice and accountability for projects beginning in the Duterte administration.

“They involve trillions of pesos since 2016, including the P51-billion peso allotment to the congressional district of Pulong Duterte and the P545 billion pesos allocated to just 10 provinces since July 2022 to name a few,” multisectoral groups said in a press statement on Monday, Sept. 15, referring the former president’s son, Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte.

“This attack on the nation’s coffers is carried out brazenly without any attempt from the alleged perpetrators to hide their obscene lifestyles,” they added.

The groups also called on Congress to pass a law that institutionalizes the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

Via an executive order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the commission has been granted wide powers, including the authority to “issue subpoenas ad testificandum and duces tecum,” “freeze or seize assets connected to any project under investigation,” and “recommend the filing of criminal, civil, or administrative cases” against culprits.

Meanwhile, the morning protest will also call on the government to hold everyone in the flood control scandal accountable.

“Ibalik ang ninakaw na pera ng bayan. Bawiin ang mga luxury cars, mamahaling relo, signature bags at designer clothes ng mga korap na kontraktor, opisyal at pulitiko. Ang yamang binawi, ilaan sa kalusugan, edukasyon, pabahay, kompensasyon sa mga nabaha,” the groups said.

[Translation: Return the people's stolen money! Seize the luxury cars, expensive watches, signature bags, and designer clothes of corrupt contractors, officials, and politicians. The recovered wealth should be allocated to health, education, housing, and compensation for flood victims.]

They urged the government to blacklist questionable contractors and suppliers and publicize all bidding documents for audit purposes and public scrutiny.

The Department of Public Works and Highways earlier banned two construction firms, Wawao Builders and Syms Construction Trading, from taking on government projects. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has also hit a two-week pause on bidding for locally-funded projects.

In a press briefing on Monday, Marcos said he supports the planned protests against the flood-control mess, encouraging protesters to participate in peaceful demonstrations.

“If I wasn’t president, I might be out in the streets with them. Of course they are enraged, of course they are angry. I am angry. We should all be angry,” he said.

The rally will coincide with the 53rd anniversary of the martial law declaration by the president’s father and namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.