People’s protest to flood Luneta, call out corruption and hypocrisy

By DOMINIC GUTOMAN
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Filipinos from a broad range of groups are preparing to flood Luneta Park on September 21 to demand an end to entrenched corruption and to call for accountability from politicians implicated in the ghost — paid for but uncompleted or made of substandard material — flood control projects that span the administrations of Rodrigo Duterte and of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We are tired of politicians who praise the resilience of the Filipino people only to use it as cover for their corruption,” the broad formation of anti-corruption advocates Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA) declared in a statement.

Protest actions on corruption in the flood control have gained momentum throughout September.

People’s organizations have stormed the offices of Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction Company in Pasig, the House of Representatives in Quezon City and the Department of Public Works and Highways in Manila in recent weeks.

Student groups have also staged campus walkouts at the University of the Philippines and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, amplifying the call for accountability.

“Return the people’s stolen money! Seize the luxury cars, expensive watches, signature bags, and designer clothes of corrupt contractors, officials, and politicians,” TAMA NA said in their list of demands. “The recovered wealth should be allocated to health, education, housing, and compensation for flood victims.”

Incomplete data

Data from the Office of the President through the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website gave information on more than 9,700 flood control projects with a total cost of Php 540.4 billion. 

However, economic think tank Ibon Foundation said that the information made public is incomplete and accounts only 45 percent of the Php 1.2 trillion spent in flood control projects from 2022 to 2025, based on their data.

“As it is, the data provided is still not enough to be able to say which legislators got the most flood control projects—much less say which legislators got the most road, building, education, health, ayuda and other pork barrel projects,” IBON Foundation stated in their analysis.

The group also made initial approximations per congressional district based on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” site.

Among their findings are:

• Lakas party members receive Php245 billion worth of projects in their districts or 45% of the total reported projects
• National Unity Party members received Php 86.7 billion (16 percent) worth of projects
• Nationalist People’s Coalition members received Php79 billion (16 percent) worth of projects
• Nacionalista Party got Php 50.5 billion (11 percent) worth of projects
• Partido Federal ng Pilipinas members received Php 37.8 billion (5 percent) worth of projects
• Liberal Party members received Php 16.3billion worth of projects (3 percent)

“The public is given volumes of data, but selectively and in ways meant to overwhelm rather than truly inform and empower. The illusion of openness is created, but the most politically sensitive information is hidden,” IBON Foundation said in a statement, emphasizing that the website omits Php 656.1 billion in flood control projects between 2022 to 2025.

Despite this seeming high spending on flood control, many communities have not been able to withstand the widespread flooding.

Strong storms and heavy flooding may result in $124 billion in losses to the Philippine economy between 2022 to 2050, according to research firm GHD.

Hypocrisy

President Marcos Jr. recently said that he supports the protests against the corruption and anomalies surrounding the multibillion-peso flood control projects. “If I am not president, I may be out in the streets with them.”

However, progressive groups called these pronouncements of Marcos Jr as blatant hypocrisy and an utter sham.

In a statement, ACT Teachers Rep Antonio Tinio said that the president sits atop the “stinking garbage heap” of corruption as chief executive, proponent, and implementor of the national budget.

“The Palace’s support is meaningless if their police continue to harass activists and spread lies against protesters,” Tinio, a deputy minority leader, said.

Makabayan lawmakers have also documented multiple instances of police intimidation tactics including unwarranted visits to the homes and workplaces of organizers, illegal surveillance operations, and the systematic spread of disinformation and political vilification.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. and assistant Renee Louise Co said that, in reality, the administration is afraid of the September 21 protests because “they know many irregularities will be exposed.”

Makabayan lawmakers added that the timing of the protests on the 53rd anniversary of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s Martial Law declaration makes the government’s stance even more reprehensible. 

“Marcos’s entire political career is based on his family’s corruption and now he has the audacity to claim support for anti-corruption protests? This is hypocrisy of the highest order,” Co, assistant minority leader, said.

Together, Makabayan lawmakers call on Malacañang to immediately: 

1. Order the cessation of all forms of harassment and intimidation against protest organizers and participants

2. Direct the Philippine National Police to respect and protect the constitutional right to assembly

3. Stop the spread of disinformation and red-tagging campaigns against legitimate civil society groups

4. Ensure that September 21 rallies proceed without state interference or sabotage

5. Return the billions stolen by the Marcos family and hold them accountable for decades of plunder

“If the Palace truly supports anti-corruption protests, they should start with themselves—return what their family stole from the nation,” Tinio emphasized.

“The Filipino people deserve genuine transparency and accountability, not performative statements from the very family that perfected the art of corruption in this country.” (JDS) 

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