Corruption foes: Let’s shake up gov’t

Pressure on the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be ramped up, with protesters calling for the abolition of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) amid a suspected coverup in the flood control scandal.

Groups preparing for the massive 30 November or Bonifacio Day rally believe the ICI is being used to clear certain high officials implicated in the unprecedented corruption in flood control projects and the manipulation of the national budget.

“All those involved must be held accountable and the corrupt must face justice. Both kinds of thieves make life miserable for the masses. Marcos and (former president Rodrigo) Duterte are the same, nothing has changed,” said the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (People’s Movement Against Corruption) or KBKK.

“The more, the better. Let’s shake up the government,” the KBKK leaders said.

The 30 November assembly, billed as the People’s Protest Against Corruption–Bonifacio Day, will be bigger than the 21 September rallies in terms of mobilization.

In Busan, South Korea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters that his “only concern” was violence from agitators.

“Those are the people that we are watching out for,” he said, urging against disorder while acknowledging public anger over alleged anomalies: “Of course they’ll be angry… Those funds are supposed to go to people to feed people, to make their lives better.”

Various organizations that participated in the 21 September “Baha sa Luneta” are planning a bigger protest.

As part of the buildup for the nationwide protest, Black Friday rallies will be held on 7, 14, 21 and 28 November in various places.

Another group, the Working People Against Corruption, composed of labor unions and BPO and entertainment industry workers, will also protest on 14 November.

Students from the University of the Philippines (UP) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines are planning a 17 November rally following the celebration of International Students Day.

On 21 November, the Health Alliance for Democracy will hold silent protests at their workplaces by wearing shirts with their call as part of “Health Workers Day of Action.”

Waste of people’s money

The recent release of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives sparked disbelief among the groups, as many details were missing or redacted, including the companies in which the lawmakers’ held stocks and shares.

“What’s the point of releasing it if the details are erased? They must be hiding something. Why won’t they reveal which companies they have shares in?” said Dr. David Michael San Juan, convenor of the Taong Bayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance and one of the founders of KBKK.

The protest movement also has a new target for their criticism — the ICI, whose members keep changing their minds about livestreaming the hearings.

“At first, they said they would; now they’re saying not yet — that we have to wait.” a rally organizer said.