ILOILO City — Anti-corruption and cause-oriented groups are taking their campaign to the streets across Panay today, September 21, pressing for government accountability over alleged corruption while bringing persistent brownouts, flooding, low wages and deteriorating basic services into a widening protest agenda.
The mobilization, led by Kahublagan Kontra Korapsyon (KKK) together with progressive and sectoral organizations, coincides with the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 and comes a year after thousands of Ilonggos joined massive anti-corruption demonstrations.
Organizers expect at least 500 core delegates, aside from walk-in participants, to join the main protest in Iloilo City. Parallel actions are also planned in Capiz and Aklan, while a delegation from Antique is expected to reinforce the Iloilo mobilization.
KKK convenor and former Kabataan party-list representative Raoul Manuel said the protest will raise allegations involving multibillion-peso flood-control and infrastructure projects, as well as the use of confidential and intelligence funds.
KKK is also calling for accountability involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, among other government officials.
“Timing gid nga maghulag kita para mapakita naton sa mga senador nga ang mga pamuluyo gusto na gid i-convict si Sara Duterte kag dapat ang ila position sa ginatawag nga voting threshold nagapabor sa kon ano gusto sang mga Pilipino,” Manuel said.
Duterte-Carpio is undergoing an impeachment trial in the Senate. She is accused of unexplained wealth, misuse of government funds, grave threats, and bribery.
Manuel also raised allegations against the Marcos administration involving flood-control projects and the Marcos family’s wealth.
“Pati man si (President Ferdinand “Bongbong”) Marcos Jr. dapat manabat sa flood control scam, kadamo man sila ill-gotten wealth. So, tanan ini dalhon naton sa September 21. Ululupod kita, maghulag kita para ipabati ang aton tingog,” Manuel emphasized.
The protest movement is also broadening its focus beyond corruption allegations to problems directly affecting households and communities across Panay Island.
Among these are recurring rotational brownouts, rising commodity prices, low wages, flooding, and deteriorating conditions in education and livelihoods.
Organizers have blamed the recurring power interruptions on policies they claim favor large private power interests. They are also demanding long-term solutions to the region’s electricity problems.
For Pamatan-on Kontra Korapsyon representative Samantha Faye Herbolario, corruption cannot be separated from the daily hardships confronting ordinary people.
“Last year, diri sa Panay, naghulag ang masobra 10,000 Ilonggos sang September 21, 2025. Tungod sa mainit nga corruption umusbong ang ining alliance, ang pamatan-on kontra korapsyon. Padayon ang aton nga paghulag kay ang corruption indi abstract concept. Ang corruption naga-apekto sa aton adlaw-adlaw,” Herbolario said.
In Iloilo City, participants will assemble at the University of the Philippines Visayas flyover at 8 a.m., followed by a program from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. highlighting grievances from different sectors.
At 11 a.m., protesters are scheduled to march toward the Office of the Ombudsman along General Luna Street for a picket rally.
Another contingent will proceed to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board to demand an immediate wage increase.
Decentralized protest actions will meanwhile be staged in Capiz and Aklan.
Organizers said previous mass demonstrations have yet to produce sufficient action against what they describe as systemic corruption.
They also cited failed or ineffective flood-mitigation projects despite recurring inundations, prosecutions they consider selective, historical revisionism, and what they described as the use of the Anti-Terror Law against dissent.
Maura Abellon of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay)-Panay said communities have reason to take their grievances to the streets.
“Luyag namon mag upod sa panawagan sang KKK nga maghulag sa Sept. 21 agod sukton ining kurakot kag wala sing pulos nga gobyerno. Indi mabatian sang aton bungol nga gobyerno kon maghipos lang kita nga wala kita tubig, wala kita kuryente, kag padayon nga ginabaha kita kon madamol ang ulan,” Abellon said.
She also questioned the effectiveness of infrastructure projects intended to address flooding and demanded lasting solutions to recurring power interruptions.
“Ini bangud man sa mga palpak nga contractor…nagdugang ang baha. Ini gapakita lamang nga indi sincere ang aton gobyerno hatagan solusyon ang mga dako-dako nga problema. Parti naman sa power, indi maayo nga rasonan lang kita nga ‘sa bwas may brownout’, ‘sa sunod may brownout’. Kihangalan naton ang long-term solutions,” Abellon stressed.
Malacañang, meanwhile, has said President Marcos respects the public’s right to assemble and air grievances during the Sept. 21 demonstrations, while appealing to participants to keep the protests peaceful./PN
