Bishops call on Filipinos to unite in ‘Trillion Peso March’ vs corruption
MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called for a nationwide Day of Prayer and Accountability against corruption, urging Filipinos to gather at the EDSA People Power Monument on Sunday, September 21, at 2 p.m.
Dubbed the “Trillion Peso March,” the peaceful assembly will serve as a moral stand against the country’s "entrenched culture of corruption."
CBCP President Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the rally is not a political spectacle but “a moment of prayer, solidarity and action” that seeks to protect democracy while demanding accountability.
‘Enough is enough’
In a pastoral message, the bishops appealed to parishes, basic ecclesial communities, religious congregations, lay groups, schools, youth, civil society and fellow believers from other denominations to join the gathering.
Those outside Metro Manila were also urged to organize simultaneous prayer rallies in their dioceses, schools and communities.
"Corruption is not just about stolen money—it is about stolen futures: flooded homes, poisoned lands, wasted opportunities for our children," the CBCP said.
They urged legislators, oversight bodies and prosecuting agencies to fast-track investigations, uphold transparency in government contracts and provide concrete solutions, rather than empty rhetoric, endless political grandstanding, or the usual delaying tactics.
"Enough is enough! We will no longer accept that this investigation simply die a natural death, like so many before it that eventually ended in political accommodations and compromises," the CBCP said.
The bishops also called for transparency and accountability in government contracts and for criminal charges against those involved in systematic plunder.
A word to the youth
Young people, according to bishops, carry a “special mission” to use their digital influence to expose wrongdoing and build “communities of conscience.”
"You have in your hands a power no generation ever had: the digital space. Use it wisely and courageously—to document truth, expose wrongdoing, and build communities of conscience," the bishops wrote.
They reminded them that strength should come not from rage but from steadfast hope, truth and solidarity.
Witness of faith
The CBCP welcomed the participation of honest government workers in the rallies, saying their presence would prove that reform in public service is possible when conscience is alive.
"To those who have enriched themselves at the expense of the poor: we echo the call of Jesus to Zacchaeus," the bishops said.
“Come down” (cf. Lk 19:5). Come down from your arrogance and greed. Choose conversion, make restitution, and repair the damage you have caused. There can be no true peace without justice, and no justice without repentance," they added.
The bishops ended the statement with an appeal for unity and faith.
"Let us not meet corruption with apathy or violence, but with faith, courage, and unity. Let us raise our voices in prayer, in conscience, and in peaceful action," the CBCP said.
The protest stems from public outrage over an alleged corruption scandal involving trillions of pesos in government funds, including questionable contracts under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Ongoing congressional inquiries are now seeking to uncover the depth of the alleged plunder and to identify those responsible.
Alongside the “Trillion Peso March” at EDSA, a simultaneous protest is also planned at Luneta Park, where organizers hope to amplify calls for transparency, justice and reform.
The protest date, September 21, is symbolic as it coincides with the anniversary of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s 1972 declaration of Martial Law, a period widely remembered for authoritarian rule, rights abuses and systemic corruption.
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