Protesters urged: Be vigilant, wary of destabilizers

MANILA, Philippines — In anticipation of the massive rallies against corruption today, Malacañang called for vigilance against possible attempts to exploit public outrage over questionable flood control projects to pursue personal interests.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Filipinos are free to express their sentiments as long as they are within the bounds of law.

President Marcos respects the rights of those who wish to join the protests, she added.

“But be critical and vigilant because this legitimate objective might be used by people who only seek to malign the government and to push their personal interests,” the Palace press officer said in a statement.

Castro reiterated that Marcos wants the public to work with government in ending the abuses in the use of government funds.

“The President hears and feels the disappointments of the people. That’s why he ordered an investigation into the anomalous flood control projects to hold people who abused public funds to account,” she said.

Various groups will hold simultaneous rallies today at the People Power Monument along EDSA in Quezon City and Rizal Park in Manila to condemn corruption and demand reforms, transparency and accountability in governance.

Marcos, who vowed to spare no one in the probe into the flood control projects mess, has expressed support for the rallies, saying he might be out in the streets to join the protests if he were not the president.

“Let your sentiments be known to them, how they hurt you, how they stole from you. Shout at them... You demonstrate. Just keep it peaceful. If it is not peaceful...the police will have to do its duty to maintain peace and order,” the President told reporters last week.

“But to show that you are enraged, to show that you are angry, to show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, to show that you want fairness, what’s wrong with that?” he added.

Security officials have not detected any direct threat to Marcos’ life ahead of the rallies, but have expressed readiness to foil possible attempts to create disorder and instability.

According to Finance department estimates, corruption in flood control projects has cost the economy more than P118 billion since 2023.

Justice sought

Members of the 1971 constitutional convention (con-con) warn that the cycle of abuses in government will not end unless the justice system acts quickly to hold officials linked to the flood control scandal accountable.

“It is incredulous that criminal cases against politicians and their cohorts do not move fast, and some politicians found guilty of bribery, graft, plunder, grave misconduct and other serious offenses have been granted clemency and pardons,” the delegates said in a strongly worded manifesto issued yesterday.

The manifesto was signed by 12 living delegates of that con-con: former senator Richard Gordon, retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., retired Justice Adolfo Azcuna, former finance secretary Margarito Teves, former Occidental Mindoro representative Ricardo Quintos, former La Union governor Victor Ortega, former Philippine ambassador to Canada Rodolfo Robles, former Philippine envoy to Papua New Guinea and Qatar Amado Tolentino Jr., Jose Leviste Jr., Sister Sonia Aldeguer, lawyer Lilia de Lima and Elizabeth Chiongbian-Johnston.

The 1971 con-con was marred by infighting over presidential term limits and allegations of bribery.

Their work was disrupted when former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law in September 1972, with 11 opposition delegates arrested afterward. Others, on the other hand, managed to evade arrest.

The con-con adopted the final draft of what would become known as the 1973 Constitution in November 1972. Two months later, it was ratified amid widespread opposition.

Emphasizing the doctrine enshrined in the 1973 Charter that public office is a public trust, the delegates called on the government to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to graft and corruption.

“Accountability must extend to all perpetrators, widespread arrests must be pursued and prosecution must follow, whether in the public or private sector – from those in their opulent offices down to their enablers, accomplices and beneficiaries,” they said, adding, “No one should be beyond the reach of justice.”

The delegates said the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission and the judiciary should be insulated from political interference.

PDP-Laban

The political party affiliated with detained former president Rodrigo Duterte confirmed its participation in today’s massive rallies against corruption, although it did not specify which of the two events it would join.

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said yesterday it will “stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people” without any color.

“This rally is not about partisanship,” it said. “It is not about personalities. It is about corruption – the betrayal of the public trust and the plunder of the nation’s future.”

PDP-Laban called the protests an opportunity to “reclaim the future” for the youth. “Our children deserve a future free from the rot of systemic corruption,” it emphasized.

The party urged Filipinos to set aside neutrality and silence, and to fight “corruption that has stolen too much already.”

Kiko Aquino Dee, convenor of Tindig Pilipinas and one of the organizers of the Trillion Peso March at the People Power Monument, said all political factions are welcome to join this Sunday, but should not serve to advance any interests.

“We are calling out the corruption of all past administrations, no matter if you’re Duterte, Marcos or whoever came before,” Dee told “Headstart” on ANC on Friday.

“If you’re comfortable with that, if you can set aside your ‘bring him home’ calls, if you can set aside your support for one particular president, then you’re welcome to come,” he added.

‘Mastermind of corruption’

For the Communist Party of the Philippines, the Sept. 21 rallies serve as an indictment of the Marcos dynasty – from the dictatorship of the patriarch to the corruption of his son.

The CPP accused the Chief Executive yesterday of “benefitting from the wealth amassed during his father’s dictatorship and perpetuating the same oppressive and exploitative system.”

The group pinned the blame solely on the President, whom they labeled the “mastermind of corruption” for receiving campaign donations from government contractors and taking kickbacks from flood control projects.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported Friday that the now-dissolved UniTeam of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte received millions of funds from at least three public works contractors during the 2022 campaign.