By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News
MANILA (Worthy News) – A large mass protest dubbed the “Trillion Peso March” was underway in the Philippine capital Manila Sunday amid mounting anger over alleged government corruption involving billions of pesos in flood control projects.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered at Rizal Park and the People Power Monument along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), sites symbolic of past pro-democracy struggles in the predominantly Catholic nation.
Similar protests were reported in other cities, including Cebu, Baguio, and Cagayan de Oro, with solidarity actions among Filipino communities abroad.
The marches were sparked by revelations from government auditors that out of 545 billion pesos (roughly $9 to 10 billion) spent since 2022 on flood control projects, numerous were flagged as substandard, undocumented, or never built.
The scandal has shaken public confidence in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, prompting him to call for an independent commission of inquiry.
Critics argue the government’s pledges are not enough. Civil society groups, students, unions, and church organizations joined hands, demanding transparency, accountability, and punishment for those responsible.
CHURCHES BACK PROTESTS
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) officially urged the faithful to participate in the “Trillion Peso March,” framing the demonstrations as a moral stand against dishonesty and misuse of public funds. The CBCP stressed that protests should remain peaceful and non-partisan.
Manila’s Archbishop, Cardinal Jose Advincula, also appealed for peace and non-violence, while supporting the call for accountability.
Earlier this month, Catholics and Protestants gathered at the historic EDSA Shrine for a Mass denouncing corruption in the government’s flood control projects.
Police and military units were placed on heightened alert across Metro Manila, though authorities emphasized that protesters had the right to demonstrate peacefully.
President Marcos said, “No one will be spared” in the corruption probe and promised to recover stolen funds.
The protests underline a deeper frustration in the Philippines, a nation of over 115 million people, some 80 percent of whom identify as Roman Catholic and another 10 percent as Protestant or evangelical.
CHRISTIANS CONCERNED
Faith groups say corruption not only undermines development but also worsens poverty in a country where millions still live below the poverty line.
The demonstration’s name, “Trillion Peso March,” recalls the “Million People March” of 2013, when Filipinos filled Manila’s streets to protest misuse of congressional funds.
For several church leaders, Sunday’s rally is another sign that the fight against corruption is not only political but also a moral imperative for the Christian community.
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