Organizers of the second Trillion Peso March, set for 30 November at the EDSA Shrine and People Power Monument, will not be asking for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as their picket is mainly focused on ending corruption and political dynasties.

“The advocacy of the Trillion Peso March is not to topple the current administration. We are not calling for the resignation ng mga pinuno ng ating bansa. Ang amin lamang panawagan ay ilantad at ikulong ang mga nagkasala at ibalik ang mga ninakaw na pera ng ating bansa,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Caritas Manila, in a press conference on Monday at the Archdiocese of Manila in Intramuros.

Also, Bagoforo maintained that they are not in support of groups asking for a military takeover or junta.

“We are not also supporting groups that are not supporting sa mga pwersa na magtatatag ng military junta, revolutionary government o ano pa man na papalitan ang ating gobyerno. We are here in the call of the Constitution and pushing for a democratic process,” the CBCP leader said.

Calling

 

According to the Trillion Peso March Movement, corruption and political dynasties are twin heads of the same monster.

“To liberate ourselves from its tight grip, we must confront both and their insidious link. On one side, systemic corruption has crippled the country's development, siphoning the nation's coffers from the poor. On the other side, political families who rule together and plunder together. Decisions affecting public welfare are made in private spaces, and public funds become their private bank accounts,” the group said in a statement.

Further, they maintained that accountability is trumped by the need to shield the family name and reputation.

“This dynastic politics has resulted in a culture of chronic impunity, where corruption and abuse become the norm. In the face of this deepening culture of impunity, we should not be trapped between false choices. No Marcos, definitely no Duterte, nor an unelected junta, can represent our anger and hope. President Marcos Jr. needs to answer for the level of corruption that has ballooned under his administration,” they said.

Also, they stressed that the Dutertes must never be allowed to hijack their movement and wash their blood-stained hands.

“We also warn against undemocratic calls for military intervention to install an unelected junta or revolutionary government. The people, united by our pursuit of radical change in the face of this crisis, must push forward a path that deepens our democracy and strengthens the rule of law. This path should not dethrone one family over another nor install an unelected junta, Instead, this path must drastically advance our peaceful exercise of people power in institutions of governance,” they said.

Praise the Lord

Meanwhile, Bagaforo extolled the government for having at least one arrested personality involved in the controversy of flood control.

“Praise the Lord! This is a positive step forward. Pero hindi pa to sapat. We understand at nakita naman natin ang level ng corruption sa mga hearings. Dapat simula pa lamang ito at marami pa dapat ang mapanagot, lalo na yung mga matataas ang posisyon at yaong mga pinaka-accountable,” he said.

In a video message on Monday, President Marcos Jr. disclosed that seven persons have been arrested out of the 16 individuals who were issued warrants of arrest for the flood control project graft case.

The President stated that seven individuals are now in the custody of authorities. One was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while the other six surrendered to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Two other accused have reportedly indicated they will turn themselves in to the authorities.

Marcos Jr. urged the rest of the accused to surrender while he warned that those who might harbor the accused will also be charged.