Nothing less than true justice
TENS of thousands of Filipinos poured into the streets on September 21, from Metro Manila to key cities nationwide, to express outrage over what has become an open secret — large-scale corruption in government, particularly in flood control projects that were either “ghosts” or substandard.
The demonstrators, a mix of public figures and ordinary citizens, were united in their fury at the brazen plunder of taxpayers’ money — funds entrusted to leaders but stolen in collusion with greedy contractors.
In Dagupan City, the protest was more subdued. Spearheaded by Archbishop Socrates Villegas at the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, people prayed, lit candles, and tied white ribbons on the church fence — symbols of solidarity with a nation weary of systemic corruption.
In Manila, the protests carried sharper tones. People demanded accountability: prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment for all those who bastardized public funds for personal gain.
The President, for his part, has formed the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), armed with broad powers — from issuing subpoenas to filing cases before the Ombudsman and the courts. But whether this body becomes an instrument of truth or just another political showpiece remains to be seen.
That the protests coincided with the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law was not lost on many. It was a stark reminder that abuse of power — whether by dictatorship or through systemic graft — inevitably sparks public resistance.
The call of the protesters was clear: those who pocketed contractors’ bribes must return the money, resign their positions, and face justice. Anything less deepens public cynicism and further erodes trust in government. Some other protesters called for the conduct of a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution to do away with political dynasty and impose the death penalty on public officials found to be corrupt.
The rally was not without trouble, instigated by rowdy black-shirted and masked. Yet these did not drown out the peaceful crowd’s louder message.
The people’s anger has reached a boiling point: Corruption must end, or those who perpetuate it will face a reckoning not just in the courts but in bigger parliaments of the streets.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
