A CRY FOR JUSTICE: 15K Ilonggos flood streets in historic uprising against corruption

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Glazyl M. Jopson

The streets of Iloilo City turned into a sea of white on Sunday.

The wave of protests sweeping the nation against government corruption reached Iloilo City, where Ilonggos rallied over alleged irregularities in flood control projects that have become a flashpoint in the country’s governance crisis.

An estimated 15,000 protesters converged at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds, where an anti-corruption concert capped the day’s mobilization, according to the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The march was led by Kahublagan Kontra Korapsyon, a broad coalition of students, activists, church leaders, and civic groups.

Two streams of protesters set out from different points of the city: one group, composed largely of students and youth activists, marched from the University of the Philippines Visayas campuses in Miagao and Iloilo City; the other, led by church leaders and multi-sectoral organizations, started from Jaro Plaza.

Both groups eventually merged at the Capitol grounds, their chants and banners carrying the same message: end corruption now and make the corrupt accountable.

Archdiocese of Jaro Archbishop Midyphil “Dodong” Bermejo Billones, who led the march from Jaro Plaza, said that the unity of diverse groups was a testament to Ilonggo identity.

“A true Ilonggo has conscience, faith in God, and an unwavering stand on social issues,” he said.

Msgr. Meliton “Dodong” Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center, said that in order to achieve justice and ensure accountability, corrupt officials should be jailed.

“The massive corruption in the country is shameful, gut-wrenching, and infuriating,” he added.

He noted that corruption in the country should not only be seen as mere “floods of corruption,” but as a “Great Flood,” comparable to that of Noah’s time.

Oso stressed that corruption in flood control projects is only the tip of the iceberg, pointing to possible anomalies in other infrastructure projects that may be discovered after a full-blown investigation by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure.

Msgr. Marco Sulayao dismissed criticism of the church’s involvement in political issues, stressing that faith must be coupled with action.

Sulayao said that while the church can offer prayer and give faith, these should be coupled with action.

He accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption drive of being mere “optics” designed to project the illusion of a clean government.

Farmer Mariquit Aspera, who traveled from the town of Sara, said the corruption in government aggravates their struggles with plunging palay farmgate prices and soaring fertilizer costs.

Asked about the President’s sincerity in curbing corruption, she added: “I doubt; he seems to have a hidden agenda.”

Dr. Suset Gargalicana, an adult pulmonologist from Mandurriao, said corruption also cripples the health sector, from access to free medicines and hospitalization to affordable healthcare.

“We are doing free clinics to help the people who can’t afford healthcare. But corrupt officials are feasting on public funds,” she said, adding that taxpayers should at least be given relief through tax holidays.

Gargalicana emphasized that the fight against corruption is not the burden of a single group, but the collective struggle of every Filipino.

For pediatrician Karen June Ventilacion, the President’s pronouncements on corruption must be taken with skepticism.

“It is easy to say those things. It should be proven in action,” she said, noting the irony that even in the President’s turf, the Ilocos Region, anomalous flood projects also exist.

“We will see if the President’s sincerity leads to actually holding corrupt officials accountable,” she added.

Local officials also joined the rally, including Councilors Rex Marcus Sarabia, Nene Dela Llana, Sheen Marie Mabilog, Sedfrey Cabaluna, and former Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.

Dela Llana said he joined the rally to stand for integrity, stressing that dishonesty and abuse of power must never be tolerated.

“We cannot allow crooks to steal our money,” he said.

He added that the people demand accountability, insisting that lawmakers and other government officials with links to corruption must be held responsible.

Cabaluna, meanwhile, reflected on what he described as a recurring cycle of abuse in government.

“I’ve seen this many times before. It is a repeating cycle of unbridled abuse and corruption. It will remain the same until we finally point at ourselves as the problem. We must all strive to be honest and just,” he said.

He stressed that while indignation can be expressed on the streets, real solutions to corruption should be foremost done inside the government.

“We must infiltrate and clean it up from within. Everybody can help; we need more from each other. It is not easy even if you are inside. Unless there is a collective commitment for positive change, and people must be willing to do it every day,” he added.

NEGRENSES JOIN PROTEST

In Bacolod City, rain did not stop Negrenses from airing their frustration publicly over corruption and wider concerns about governance, as more than 2,000 people gathered here on Sunday, Sept. 21, to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

Dressed in white, approximately 1,000 demonstrators—including church groups, former government officials, youth, activists, and other sectors—assembled at South Capitol Road in Barangay 8 and later marched to the Public Plaza, carrying placards that denounced corruption and poor leadership.

Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson for Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), reported that the crowd at the plaza peaked at about 2,500 by Sunday afternoon.

Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte also staged a separate motorcade with the theme “Bring Duterte Home.”

Around 80 participants joined the rally using 20 four-wheeled vehicles and 50 motorcycles.

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) monitored one peaceful activity in the form of a prayer rally preceded by a caravan centered on the call to bring Duterte home.

The caravan started at 2:05 p.m. and was followed by the prayer rally at 5:00 p.m. held at the Barangay Villamonte gymnasium with around 250 participants.

Meanwhile, in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, three rallies that began at 5:00 p.m. had been monitored.

These included a motorcade and protest rallies staged in Barangay Banilad City Limit with about 550 participants, Quezon Park with around 100 participants, and at Pantawan 3, Rizal Boulevard with about 50 participants—totaling about 700.

Issues raised during these assemblies included calls for clean governance, denouncements of corruption, accountability in commemoration of Martial Law, and demands for transparency, accountability, and civic engagement at all levels of government, according to PRO-NIR.

About 200 individuals also held a peace rally and motorcade at Freedom Park in Dumaguete City.

Authorities confirmed that no protests were recorded in Siquijor.

Policemen were deployed across Negros Island to ensure public safety, maintain peace and order, and provide security coverage in areas where assemblies and rallies were staged.

The regional police tightened security and public safety operations, deploying over 1,000 personnel to key areas, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid the flooding controversy in the country, and other potential sites in light of the lifting of the “no permit, no rally” policy.

Overall, PRO-NIR reported that all rallies and assemblies across Negros Island remained peaceful with no significant untoward incidents recorded as of this writing.

Police units continue to coordinate with local government units, community stakeholders, and organizers to ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful assembly are upheld while maintaining public order and security.

Police urged the public to remain vigilant, cooperative, and respectful of each other’s rights during such demonstrations.