ILOILO City – Nearly 2,000 Ilonggos marched on Bonifacio Day to denounce what activists called the worsening “impunity” in corruption and political dynasties.
Civil society groups staged the Trillion Peso March 2.0 on Sunday, with data from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) placing the crowd at 1,800 as of 4 p.m., making it one of the largest anti-corruption gatherings in the city this year.
Organized by Kahublagan Kontra Kurapsyon (KKK-Iloilo), the protest coincided with national commemorations of Andres Bonifacio Day.
The rally sought to highlight long-standing public anger over multibillion-peso flood control fund anomalies, slow-moving investigations, and what organizers described as entrenched patterns of abuse by political dynasties.
Activists said the gathering called out both President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio for alleged “financial mismanagement” and “dubious budget insertions” that eroded public trust.
Participants — from civic groups, youth networks, church communities, and academic circles — assembled at Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and the University of the Philippines Visayas at around 1 p.m. They later marched to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol at 3 p.m. for a program centered on accountability and reforms.
Msgr. Meliton Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), said the protest carried the theme “Padabdabon ang Kaisog ni Bonifacio: Martsa kag Manindugan Kontra sa Kagarukan” (“Igniting the Courage of Bonifacio: March and Stand Against Corruption”). He stressed the event’s goal to “rekindle the spirit of resistance and courage” among Ilonggos.
“Normalizing corruption has overwhelmed and devastated our nation,” Oso said. “Yet, even amidst the turmoil, we find solace in our faith; the Lord is with us, guiding us through the tumultuous waves and helping us navigate these turbulent waters by upholding the values of righteousness, honesty, and accountability.”
Sunday’s mobilization followed the first Trillion Peso March held on September 21, which organizers said drew more than 15,000 Ilonggos nationwide.
Through sustained actions like Saturday’s march, activists vowed to continue pressing for transparency, integrity, and decisive action against corruption./PN