Tomorrow, January 31, various groups will hold indignation rallies against Corruption and Impunity in Metro Manila: 1) at the People Power Monument at 9:00AM; 2) at EDSA Shrine corner Ortigas at 2:00PM; and, 3) at the Liwasang Bonifacio at 2:00PM.
Tomorrow’s rallies will follow today’s rally in in Dagupan City led by Bishop Soc Villegas and in Baguio City led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
This statement:
“The Clergy and Citizens for Good Governance reject corruption in all forms.
We demand accountability from the Marcoses, the Dutertes, and our Congress.
We reject the 2025 national budget because it represents the interests of politicians and betrays the welfare of the Filipino people.
It was designed to weaken our institutions/promote patronage politics/and reinforce the status quo.
It defunded Philhealth to force Filipinos to beg for financial medical assistance from politicians, slashed the budget of the 4Ps project in favor of ayuda politics, placed the highest budget allocation to pork barrel under the guise of critical public works projects, undermined the education sector by reducing the allocation for hiring of teachers and computerization.
The budget for public transportation was reduced, the AFP modernization program deprioritized. Priority infrastructure projects were defunded, placed under unprogrammed appropriations.
To this end, we demand the following:
1. We call on the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the General Appropriations Act for 2025.
2. We call on Congress to repeal the General Appropriations Act for 2025, to rectify the flaws of the budget, enact a people’s budget by strengthening education, public health, and critical infrastructures, and to defund non-critical public works projects which promote corruption among our politicians.
3. We call on Congress to enact an Anti-Political Dynasty Law in accordance with the provisions of the 1987 Constitution to help effect good and responsible governance in the Philippines.
4. We call for genuine transparency, full disclosure/accountability in all public acts on budget legislation specifically the acts of the bicameral conference committee and utilization by the government.
5. We call on the release of all the names of supposed beneficiaries of the AKAP program and all dole out programs of this administration so that a proper people’s audit can be conducted.
6. We demand for the abolition of confidential funds.
Our stand against corruption includes a call to address the crimes and corrupt practices conducted by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.
1. We call on Congress to exercise its Constitutional mandate to rid government of inept and corrupt politicians like Sara Duterte by impeaching her.
2. We demand that Secretary Teodoro disclose the results of the military’s investigation of two military aides who ended up in possession of the 125 million confidential fund of Vice President Duterte.
3. We demand the Marcos Administration to file the appropriate cases against the Dutertes for the crimes they committed against the Filipino people.
4. We demand our government to cooperate with the ICC in the investigation and prosecution of former President Duterte and his ilk.
We call on the Filipino people to close ranks and express our collective outrage.
The Executive and Legislative branches have failed us by prioritizing their interests over people’s welfare.
There can be no reconciliation, healing, and peace without justice and accountability. Marcos-Duterte panagutin!”
This song for all Filipinos- (credit to Ryan Cayabyab)
“O bayan ko, kailan ka mamumulat? Ang totoo’y nakikita na pumipikit ka pa.
Kailan pa? Kapag wala ka ng magagawa? Kapag wala ka ng ibubuga?
O bayan ko, kalian ka matututo?
Sadyang ikaw ang kalaban mo, ikaw rin ang susuko
O bayan ko kailian ka tatayo? Kay rami ng dugong inalay sa’yo.
O bayan ko ang oras ay malapit ng maubos
Bangon na! Bumangon bayan ko!
Kung magsasama-sama tinig na sabay-sabay
Susugod na! Sugod na!
Bayan ko, bayan ko!”