Religious, civil society groups set June 28 anti-corruption EDSA protest

MANILA, Philippines — Religious and civil society leaders will hold a faith-based anti-corruption rally on June 28 at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City.

The demonstration, dubbed the “White Ribbon Movement” and organized by the Inter-Religious Leaders Council for National Transformation, is calling for an end to corruption, the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, and the implementation of electoral reforms.

“When corruption becomes normalized, the nation’s moral compass is damaged and the weak are burdened, while the powerful escape accountability. Corruption is not only a crime, it is a betrayal of trust,” Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo, CBCP episcopal chairman, told a press conference on Friday, June 19. 

“This is not about political colors. Rather, our call is for truth, accountability, justice, and righteousness to prevail in our nation,” Bishop Efraim Tendero of the World Evangelical Alliance added in Filipino. 

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The mobilization seeks to build on the momentum of the Trillion Peso March last year, triggered by the flood control corruption scandal, which potentially involves billions of pesos in stolen public funds. 

The group believes previous rallies had pressured the government to act, citing the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, developments in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, and the resignation of other officials accused of corruption.

Some key actors in the public works scam are now behind bars, including Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former senator Bong Revilla, and contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, but others, such as former congressman Zaldy Co, remain at large, or have yet to be charged in court. 

Other notable individuals and groups involved in the organization of the June 28 rally include Artikulo Onse convenor Luke Espiritu, Tama Na convenor David San Juan, Sanlakas secretary general Aaron Pedrosa Jr., BCBP chairman Luis Ferrer, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Grand Mufti-NCR, Commission on Interreligious Dialogue, and National Council of Churches.

“That is why this kind of civil society formation, the White Ribbon Movement, does not fall into the factional divisions of corrupt politicians, but instead seeks to hold all of them accountable,” Espiritu said. – Rappler.com

Patricia Fontilar is a journalism student at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the managing editor of Tinig ng Plaridel, the official student publication of the UP College of Media and Communication. She is currently a Rappler intern.