LEGAZPI CITY—The erratic weather on the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law did not deter protesters in this city, Naga City, Sorsogon City, and the towns of Daet and Virac as Bicolanos staged region-wide anti-corruption protests Sunday.
The protests were part of the Trillion Peso March slated across the country on the alleged misuse of public funds meant for flood control and other public works infrastructures, many of which were found out to be “ghost” or sub-standard projects.
Some 1,000 protesters joined the 3-kilometer march from the Redemptorist Church to the Battle of Legazpi Monument after a 9 a.m. mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ronald Balase.
Mostly wearing black and carrying placards seeking more accountability from the government and the return of alleged stolen public funds, the protesters were representing various sectors including the youth, transportation, the religious sector, women, senior citizens, educators, and the LGBTQ community.
Fr. Balase and the multi-sectoral group Bicol Pilgrims for Peace held a peace walk from Iriga City to Naga City on Thursday, Sept. 18, that ended on Friday, Sept. 19, just a couple of days ahead of the wider protests on Sunday. The earlier protest called for the justice for human rights violations victims, empowerment of the marginalized, and stronger church-society unite.
The protest was initially meant to end at the Kalayaan Park, but upon learning that members of the Philippine National Police were doing zumba at the park, protesters diverted their march towards the Battle of Legazpi Monument.
While walking, the rallyists repeated called for the jailing of involved politicians including Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, who is allegedly in the United States of America for medical reasons.
“Actually, simple lang naman ang gusto natin, ‘di ba? ‘Di ba, gusto natin, libre ang edukasyon, libre ang ospital, hindi tayo natatakot magkasakit dahil mayroon tayong ospital na libre at may gamot para saating lahat. Pero yung kurakot, wala dito. Hindi nagpapagamot sa public hospital natin,” said artist Julie DM Bega, one of the protesters.
On the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law declaration, Bicol protesters gathered throughout the region to protest against alleged misuse of funds meant for flood control infrastructures and other public works projects. | photo by Rey Anthony Ostria, BicoldotPH On the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law declaration, Bicol protesters gathered throughout the region to protest against alleged misuse of funds meant for flood control infrastructures and other public works projects. | photo by Rey Anthony Ostria, BicoldotPH On the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law declaration, Bicol protesters gathered throughout the region to protest against alleged misuse of funds meant for flood control infrastructures and other public works projects. | photo by Rey Anthony Ostria, BicoldotPH On the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law declaration, Bicol protesters gathered throughout the region to protest against alleged misuse of funds meant for flood control infrastructures and other public works projects. | photo by Rey Anthony Ostria, BicoldotPH On the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law declaration, Bicol protesters gathered throughout the region to protest against alleged misuse of funds meant for flood control infrastructures and other public works projects. | photo by Rey Anthony Ostria, BicoldotPH
The protesters in Legazpi City also called for climate action, an end to campus militarization and red-tagging, and remember of the atrocities of the Martial Law by the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 53 years ago, during the Martial Law, Marcos’ critics were jailed, forcibly disappeared, tortured, raped, and killed.
The protest was led by the Albay Movement Against Corruption (AMAC) including Bicolana Gabriela, Bicol Union, Kabataan Partylist Bicol, Pi Sigma, Bungkaras Bicol, teachers, the Redemptorist Church, and other progressive groups.
Nica Ombao, the regional director of Bicolana Gabriela, said that although they have been fighting for the rights of the Filipino every year, this year’s Martial Law commemoration was even more significant due to the corruptions.
“Ang pangunahing panawagan ng kababaihan ay i-allocate na ang mga budget na madaling ma-corrupt into social services,” Ombao told BicoldotPH. “Huwag nang dumaan sa kung saan-saan pang pork barrel. Ipabilang ito sa mga ospital para ang lahat ng serbisyo sa ating kababayan ay libre na. Isa sa mga malaking korapsyon ay ang budget para sa public services. Hindi lang sa health, kundi pati sa edukasyon at iba pang serbisyo.”
Meanwhile, Fr. Jeffrey Lozano of the Redemptorist Church said that no one is spared from the issues plaguing the country today.
“Hindi hiwalay ang simbahan sa estado ng lipunan. Lahat tayo apektado at dapat may managot,” Lozano told BicoldotPH.
In Naga City in Camarines Sur, protesters gathered the Plaza Rizal.
Farmers, youth, educators, student journalists, women, and other civil society groups joined the protest calling for an end to what they called was the government’s broken system.
According to the protesters, seeking accountability should not be limited to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is on spotlight due to the Senate and House of Representatives hearings on the flood control fiasco. Instead, the protesters said, government officials must pay for their corruption.
The rally in Naga City started at 9 a.m. with messages from the various groups including Kabataan Partylist CamSur, ADNU for Palestine, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Bicol, Damayan ng mga Paraoma (Dampa), UP Alumni Association, Karapatan Bicol, Nungka, Bayan Muna Partylist Camarines Sur, Jovenes Anakbayan Naga City, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) Bicol, Gabriela Women’s Party, Bunyog Pagkakaisa Partylist, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Bicol, and the publication The Pillars.
Marites Cello of Damayan nin Paraoma Camarines Sur, said that the public works scandal greatly affects farmers.
“We farmers receive only a small percentage of the budget from the Department of Agriculture (DA). For small-scale farmers like us, almost no subsidies reach us,” Cello told BicoldotPH.
She also recalled when Naga City was struck by storm “Kristine” (internationally, Trami), leaving communities submerged in floodwaters
This, she explained, is one of the reasons why their group is calling the attention of DPWH contractors and those involved, particularly Bicolano politicians and congressmen such as former Senate President Chiz Escudero and Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“To those crocodiles out there, you should be subsidizing the farmers,” Cello appealed.
She said that widespread flood were due to illegal logging and quarrying, things the government is not blameless.
The program ended with the groups tearing up photos of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Escudero, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Co.
Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH 
Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH
Local artists performed songs during the protests in Legazpi City and Naga City.
In Sorsogon City in Sorsogon, rallyists also carried placards calling for the jailing of politicians involved in the anomalies.
One sign read, “Puro na lang dini H. Nano ini Horhogon?” referencing the letters inscribed on the street lamps installed during Gov. Jose Edwin Hamor’s term.
In Daet town in Camarines Norte, the protesters gathered at the historic Rizal Monument at 3 p.m. on Sunday, wearing mostly white.
During their protest dubbed as “Baha sa Camarines Norte,” the rallyists called for justice by holding corrupt officials accountable, the return of stolen funds, and the allocating of larger budget for education.
Christian Jay Mamol, Youth Against Kurakot Camarines Norte convenor, told BicoldotPH that they are seeking more ordinances on “open infrastructures.”
“Gusto nating magkaroon ng mga ordinansa patungkol sa open infra, kung saan mas magiging bukas ang pamahalaan patungkol sa infrastructure projects,” Marmol said. “Pangalawa dito ay gusto rin natin i-push yung FOI Bill na mas mapalakas dito sa probinsya ng Camarines Norte.”
Through this, he said, the public will be included in the planning of projects and ensuring that no funds are misused. | with reports from Karl Ian Morissey Ramos and Jay-R Nabor in Naga City, Nicole Frilles in Sorsogon City, Jayson San Fernando in Daet, and Bea Bianca Nicerio in Legazpi City.
