Calling for public officials to resign is not among the messages of the Trillion Peso March against corruption on Nov. 30, Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo confirmed.
‘Our advocacy here at the Trillion Peso March is not to overthrow our current elected officials. We are not calling for the resignations of our leaders of our country. What we are fighting for is to imprison, expose, and return those who stole from corruption,’ Bagaforo said at a press conference on Monday.
The rally was arranged amid the probe on flood-control projects where government officials, including elected public officials, were linked to massive misuse of government funds.
Such instances have triggered several rallies from different groups since, with some calling for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after he was named by former Ako-Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co, who was also implicated in the scandal.
Talks of destabilization have also been a concern, most recently with Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson claiming he was offered by retired military officers to be part of a ‘civilian military junta.’
Bagaforo, however, denies that the Trillion Peso March Movement (TPMM) is in support of any efforts to topple the government, saying they want to honor the Constitution.
‘We do not support the forces that will establish a military junta or revolutionary government or anything else that will replace our current government. In other words, we adhere to the call of the Constitution- democratic precipice is what we will follow,’ the bishop added.
Bagaforo also wished that the situation doesn’t come to a point where there is a need for a ‘regime change,’ adding that there are still ‘legal and constitutional remedies’ that may be explored to fight corruption.
During the protest, should there be calls for any public official to resign, Tindig Pilipinas Convenor Francis ‘Kiko’ Dee says, the organizers will also exercise ‘maximum tolerance’ within itself to respect the freedom of expression.
However, Dee warned that marshals during the event will intervene if they observe a group of people ‘insisting on that position,’ adding that the organizers and Quezon City police have separate roles in terms of security during the event.
‘We hope it won’t escalate to the point that we will have to ask the help of the QC police, as much as possible, because the deal is the marshals will keep order within the rally premises and the QC police will secure the perimeter,’ Dee explained.
The group’s anti-corruption rally will be held at the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) People Power Monument in Quezon City, simultaneous with several other demonstrations across the country commemorating Bonifacio Day.