Maximum tolerance observed at anti-corruption rally

Various groups held indignation rallies against corruption and impunity in Metro Manila on Friday, gathering at the People Power Monument at 9 a.m. and at the EDSA Shrine corner Ortigas on Friday.

Police maintained a policy of maximum tolerance as forces from the National Capital Region Police Office augmented the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), guarding the premises of the People Power Monument along EDSA near Camp Crame and Aguinaldo.

At least 400 police officers were positioned to prevent rallyists from approaching the monument directly.

QCPD chief PCol. Melecio M. Buslig Jr. estimated the crowd at 1,000, including those who gathered at the EDSA Shrine or the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace on Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City, where the program began at 2:30 p.m.

Buslig said prominent figures at the rallies included Prof. Shielo Magno, retired Gen. Rio, Jim Paredes of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen, representatives of the Akbayan Partylist, Tindig Pilipinas, the Dumagat group, clergy members and members of Citizens for Good Governance.

Citizens for Good Governance stated it rejects corruption in all forms.

“We demand accountability from the Marcoses, the Dutertes, and our Congress,” said the members of the group. “We reject the 2025 national budget because it represents the interests of politicians and betrays the welfare of the Filipino people.”

The group also claimed the budget was “designed to weaken our institutions, promote patronage politics, and reinforce the status quo.”

They also alleged that the government defunded PhilHealth to force Filipinos to beg for financial medical assistance from politicians, slashed the budget of the 4Ps project in favor of “ayuda politics,” placed the highest budget allocation in pork barrel funds under the guise of critical public works projects, and undermined the education sector by reducing the allocation for hiring teachers and computerization.