Despite heavy rains, hundreds of residents from Batangas took to the streets yesterday to protest against corruption.
Ferdinand Alilio, advocacy group Tindig Batangas leader, said the rally aims to demand accountability from government officials and private contractors over the misuse of public funds and protest against widespread corruption in government infrastructure projects.
‘The level of corruption is becoming inhuman. Batangas residents are not known to be the rally or protest type of people. And yet here we are, to show that we are standing up against corruption. Posting our complaints on social media is no longer enough,’ Alilio said in Filipino.
He explained that Lipa City was chosen as the rally venue to show that even in areas where public protests are rare, people are beginning to take a stand.
Yesterday’s protest drew support from the Catholic clergy, Muslim community, market vendors, transport and labor groups, senior citizens as well as civic and youth organizations.
Representatives from the Alyansa Barako, Kabataan party-list, Anakbayan, Panday Sining and the civic group Guardians also joined the rally.
Alilio said more protest rallies are scheduled in the lead-up to the nationwide demonstration on Nov. 30.
Lt. Col. Aleli Buaquen, Lipa city police chief, said the rally was generally peaceful.
‘We (police) are here to ensure that people can exercise their right to freedom of expression and voice their grievances,’ Buaquen said.
She added that the city government allowed the rally participants to march through the streets and converge in the community park in Barangay 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.