The MANLABAN! coalition, or Manggagawang Laban sa Bulok na Sistema, Pribatisasyon at Korapsyon, on Thursday said the “decades-old, rotten political system” has systematically enabled corruption, weakened democratic institutions, and deprived Filipinos of honest, efficient public service.

The group stressed that the recent flood control project scandal and issues surrounding the national budget are merely fragments of a much larger structural governance crisis that requires urgent political reform.

The root cause

Atty. Luke Espiritu, Bukluran ng Manggagawa president and one of the convenors of MANLABAN!, said corruption is not simply an issue of individual misconduct but a direct consequence of a political culture that rewards patronage and protects the powerful.

"Corruption in the Philippines is not driven solely by individuals but by a political culture that systematically rewards patronage and protects the powerful," Espiritu said.

The group said this environment has severely weakened regulatory oversight, allowed abusive practices to flourish, and kept essential public services hostage to competing political and business interests.

Privatization

The coalition cited several privatization controversies — including the Prime Water service fiasco, the NAIA transparency issue, and the Pagbilao Power Plant’s alleged violations of labor rights — claiming they are symptoms of a government “incapable of delivering basic services.”

"Flaws in some privatization arrangements... reflect broader structural failures in governance: a chronic lack of accountability, political capture, and institutions that prioritize profit or political survival over public welfare," the group's statement read.

Glecy Naquita, MANLABAN lead organizer, said: “If the government cannot deliver even the most basic services and opts to pass on its obligation to profit-driven contractor oligarchs, how ordinary people access basic services? Moreso, how can you expect it to address corruption?”

Impact on wokers

Naquita noted that this systemic failure has left ordinary Filipinos burdened with rising fees and unreliable public services, while workers face job insecurity, inconsistent benefits, and widespread labor abuse.

MANLABAN said genuine change requires deep structural reforms beginning with the country’s political system.

Key proposals include:

• Election reforms for 2028 to break political monopolies
• Stricter regulations against dynasties and patronage networks
• Full transparency in campaign financing
• Mandatory publication and independent review of major public–private agreements
• Stronger labor protections and stable benefits
• Stronger, independent regulatory bodies with reliable enforcement

"We cannot fix the country by pinning blame on one anomaly or one official. The real enemy is a political system that allows corruption and abuse to thrive. Ipaglaban natin ang agarang paglilinis ng korap na sistema ng ating gobyerno, at kabulukan ng halalan, kung saan, puro mayayaman at enterprising political dynasties ang naghahari," said Leody De Guzman, MANLABAN convenor and president of Partido Lakas ng Masa.

"If we want a government that truly serves the people, we must start with political and election reforms that will finally dismantle the old system and build a fair, accountable one," he added.

MANLABAN said they will raise all these issues on the morning of November 30 at the doorstep of Malacañang, “where all power and accountability rest.” The coalition urged the public to join the movement for genuine reforms and not be swayed by partisan politics.