• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONEC), together with multi-sectoral peoples organizations, are expecting at least 6,000 Negrosanons to participate in the upcoming nationwide “A Trillion March,” a protest against government corruption.
The nationwide march is a call from the Church Leader Council for National Transformation, which aims to bring together various sectors, civilians, and church people to fight against what they described as “anomalous and fraudulent projects.”
The rally is set on September 21, the 53rd commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law under the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
In Bacolod City, the ONEC facilitated indignation rally will commence from the Provincial Capitol Lagoon at 1:30 p.m. and then proceed to the Bacolod City Government Center Replica at the Public Plaza, to express their condemnation of the anomalous and fraudulent system of the Philippine government.
“We don’t rely on the power of politicians; it is the people who will show their power to push good governance within the government. This is not pro-Duterte or pro-Marcos, or even other politicians; we are pro-truth and anti-corruption,” ONEC provincial coordinator Fr. Arman Onion said during the press conference yesterday.
During the press conference, ONEC clarified that they are not funded or supported by politicians; they are just taking action for the sake of the Filipinos.
Makabayan-Negros spokesperson Noli Rosales said that the mass action will serve as a testament that it is still the people who have the power against the corrupt officials, as he called on Bacolodnons and Negrosanons to be part of the march.
“This call is not just for the people affected by the flood; this is a call for the government officials to change the system. We will seek justice, especially for the taxpayers, the laborers, and other Filipinos who were tirelessly working just to pay tax,” he explained.
Furthermore, ONEC is urging the public who want to join the indignation march to wear white shirts and ribbons as a sign of calling for clean governance.
RALLY PERMIT
The ONEC assured the public that they are abiding by the rules and regulations imposed by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), in terms of the “no permit, no rally” policy.
The signed permit processed by the ONEC was shown to the media during the press conference, stating that the city had approved the indignation rally.
Moreover, Fr. Onion assured that the rally will be peaceful.
At the same time, other groups supporting former president Rodrigo Duterte will also conduct a rally at Bacolod Public Plaza, calling to bring home Duterte after being detained by the International Criminal Court at the Hague.
MANIFESTO
Various people’s organizations and sectoral groups signed a manifesto made by the ONEC, seeking government accountability and for justice to be served for the corrupt politicians.
The manifesto stated that the corrupt officials are now operating openly without shame or remorse. It also describes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the architect of systemic corruption, as they claim that the president is behind all the corrupt officials.
“It is with this concern that we, workers and peoples from different churches and civil society organizations, look upon the grave state of our nation and our people, and declare our great abhorrence of this heinous and contemptible corruption that has engulfed our system of governance,” it said.
LAUNCH INVESTIGATION
Atty. Cesar Veloria of ONEC disclosed yesterday during the press conference that they are set to conduct a ‘people’s investigation’ regarding anomalous flood control projects within the province.
He said that once the result of their investigation is done, they will send a copy of their report to the offices of the local chief executives in Negros Occidental, the House of Representatives, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and even the office of the President.
“All our investigation will be sent to these offices,” he said, citing that they will seek a representative from each agency to join them during the investigation for a fair examination of the flood control projects.
“We have a check card; this is a guide for us on how we should determine the quality and the standard of the projects so that our investigation will be credible,” he added.*
