Today, 21 September 2025, the day that reminds us of the dark legacy of Martial Law—I monitored thousands of Filipinos at the Trillion Peso March during the People Power Monument that was held in Quezon City. The march was a thunderous cry against corruption, particularly the scandal surrounding the alleged misuse of ₱545 billion (C$13.3 billion) in flood control funds by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). For decades, the DPWH has been at the center of corruption controversies—from ghost projects and overpriced contracts to collusion with contractors—that have cost our people trillions of pesos in lost development opportunities (Chanco, 2021). Instead of protecting lives and building resilient infrastructure, systemic corruption in the agency has left communities drowning in floods, while a wealthy few flaunt luxury cars and mansions purchased with blood money.
The chant that echoed through the streets—“Marcos, singilin!” (Marcos, pay up!) “Duterte, panagutin!” (Duterte, face justice!) “Korap, patalsikin!” (Corrupt, get out!)—was not just rhetoric. It was a prophetic denunciation of impunity, a demand that those who plundered public funds be held accountable. This collective cry for justice was amplified by reform champions such as Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno and Former Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, who delivered a powerful duet speech presenting four urgent reforms for democratic accountability.
1. On Political Candidates’ Public Disclosure of SALN
I affirm their call for all political candidates to disclose their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). This is not just a bureaucratic formality but a moral obligation. Public SALNs serve as windows into a leader’s integrity, enabling voters and civil society to track hidden wealth and unexplained enrichment (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism [PCIJ], 2021). Candidates unwilling to embrace transparency have no business leading a democracy.
2. On Disqualifying Politicians with Collectible COA Notices of Disallowance
Magno and Mendoza’s bold proposal to disqualify candidates with final, collectible COA Notices of Disallowance is a long-overdue reform. Too many politicians implicated in misuse of funds still run and win elections. Disqualification would send a clear message: corruption has consequences. Those who fail in financial accountability must not be entrusted with public office (Commission on Audit, n.d.).
3. On the Urgent Passage of a Freedom of Information Law
The urgent call for a Freedom of Information (FOI) law resonated deeply with me. Executive Order No. 2 (2016) was only a partial step; we need a binding, statutory law covering all branches of government (La Viña & Kho, 2016). Without FOI, corruption thrives in darkness. With FOI, truth becomes a tool of empowerment.
4. On Citizens’ Participation in Budgeting and DPWH Projects
Perhaps most timely was their call for citizens’ participation in national budgeting and in DPWH projects. Given the DPWH’s long record of being one of the most corrupt agencies in the country (Chanco, 2021; Santos, 2020), citizen monitoring is no longer optional—it is essential. Participatory budgeting would allow communities to shape priorities, monitor projects, and close the gaps where corruption festers (World Bank, n.d.).
Organized by Citizens, Amplified by Artists
The Trillion Peso March was organized by broad coalitions of people’s movements, civil society groups, and faith-based communities determined to reclaim democracy from plunder. As I watched the livestream, I noticed the strong presence of movie and television personalities who lent their voices to the movement. Their participation reminded us that the fight for transparency and accountability is not only political but also cultural and moral. They were not there for glamour or showbiz spectacle, but to use their platform for something larger than themselves.
Among them, Vice Ganda stood out. Her speech was sharp and fearless. She declared that Filipinos must no longer live in fear of government officials who abuse power. Instead, she turned the message around: it is time that corrupt leaders feel the fear of an awakened citizenry. She demanded accountability, calling for every peso stolen to be traced and recovered, and for those who plundered the people’s money to be jailed. Vice also reminded everyone that unity is our strength — no sector should stand alone in this fight against corruption.
Watching online, I felt her words pierce through the screen. Her courage as a celebrity, a comedian, and one of the country’s top taxpayers gave her speech a grounding in credibility. For me, it was a moment when entertainment’s brightest stars stepped into the public square, no longer to amuse, but to call for justice.
As a Peacebuilding Fieldworker, I’m Grateful
To my sisters in reform, Cielo Magno and Heidi Mendoza: thank you for showing us that democracy is not an abstract dream but a living struggle that requires courage, clarity, and prophetic persistence. Your proposals give shape to what transparency, accountability, and participatory governance could look like in practice.
I affirm these reforms as urgent, achievable, and worth pursuing through a People’s Initiative. Alongside faith communities, grassroots movements, and civil society, I commit to help amplify this call until corruption no longer defines our governance, and until justice flows like rivers across our land.
References
Chanco, B. (2021, March 15). DPWH and corruption. The Philippine Star.https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/03/15/2084125/dpwh-and-corruption
Commission on Audit. (n.d.). What is disallowance? Commission on Audit. https://www.coa.gov.ph/FAQS/what-is-disallowance/
CNN Philippines. (2025, September 21). Celebrities join Trillion Peso March protest vs corruption. CNN Philippines.https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2025/9/21/celebrities-join-trillion-peso-march.html
Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016, Operationalizing in the executive branch the people’s constitutional right to information and the state policies to full public disclosure and transparency in the public service and providing guidelines therefor (Philippines). (2016). Retrieved from https://lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo2016/eo_2_2016.html
La Viña, A. G. M., & Kho, G. B. (2016). Freedom of Information in the Philippines: The continuing debate. Philippine Political Science Journal, 37(2), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/01154451.2016.1230789
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. (2021, May 9). SOCE and SALN: Why these documents matter in campaign finance coverage. PCIJ. https://pcij.org/2021/05/09/soce-and-saln/
Santos, R. C. E. (2020). Participatory budgeting in the Philippines: Local governance innovation. Community Development Journal, 55(3), 472–489. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsy063
World Bank. (n.d.). Participatory budgeting. World Bank Open Knowledge Repository. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org
