Camille Naredo

Members of Akbayan Partylist, Youth Against Kurakot (YAK!), and Tindig Pilipinas — co-organizers of the Trillion People March — hold a noise barrage and candle lighting to denounce large-scale corruption during the “White Friday Protest” at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City on Friday, October 10, 2025. The groups call for accountability from public officials accused of plunder. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Members of Akbayan Partylist, Youth Against Kurakot (YAK!), and Tindig Pilipinas — co-organizers of the Trillion People March — hold a noise barrage and candle lighting to denounce large-scale corruption during the “White Friday Protest” at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City on Friday, October 10, 2025. The groups call for accountability from public officials accused of plunder.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

ANTI-CORRUPTION PROTEST

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176042371498120251010-white-friday-protest-MT11.jpg" style="width:958px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of Akbayan Partylist, Youth Against Kurakot (YAK!), and Tindig Pilipinas — co-organizers of the Trillion People March — hold a noise barrage and candle lighting to denounce large-scale corruption during the “White Friday Protest” at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City on Friday, October 10, 2025. The groups call for accountability from public officials accused of plunder. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of Akbayan Partylist, Youth Against Kurakot (YAK!), and Tindig Pilipinas — co-organizers of the Trillion People March — hold a noise barrage and candle lighting to denounce large-scale corruption during the “White Friday Protest” at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City on Friday, October 10, 2025. The groups call for accountability from public officials accused of plunder. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday called for calm after a survey showed that majority of Filipinos want corrupt officials and contractors to be held accountable over the plundering of billions in taxes pilfered through ghost or substandard flood control projects.</p><p>A recent survey from OCTA Research Group showed that 68 percent of respondents support the call to hold accountable those involved in anomalous flood control projects, while several groups have been questioning why players in the flood control mess have yet to be incarcerated.</p><p>“Kalma lang… Hindi po kasi ito nadadaan sa agad-agaran,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/13/marcos-jr-will-not-block-lawful-protests-malaca-ang-1752">Marcos Jr. will not block lawful protests: Malacañang</a></div><p>“Hindi po ito nadadaan sa pabilisan… Mas hindi magiging katanggap-tanggap kung nakapagsampa nga ng maraming kaso pero nadismiss agad kasi hindi hinog ang ebidensya,” she said.</p><p>The Palace also urged the public to give the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) sufficient time and leeway to do its job, noting that the panel earlier committed to file cases within four weeks since its creation in October.</p><p>“Hayaan natin sila na makapag ipon ng mga ebidensya… Hintayin na lang natin ang magiging magandang trabaho ng ICI,” Castro said.</p><p>“Ang commitment po ng Pangulo panagutin ang dapat mapanagot,” she said.</p><p>“Ang Pangulo ay hindi magsasawalang bahala ng mga sentimyento na narinig niya sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.</p><p>So far, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has been carrying out lifestyle checks among officials in the executive branch, the Communications Undersecretary said, noting that it would be up to the agency on when they intend to release the results of their investigation.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2025/8/28/bir-begins-lifestyle-check-on-contractors-who-flaunt-lavish-assets-to-look-into-gov-t-officials-1501">BIR begins lifestyle check on contractors who ‘flaunt’ lavish assets, to look into gov’t officials next</a></div><p>Meanwhile, some 19,000 reports sent through the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website have been forwarded to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development as the findings of inspections will be forwarded to the ICI, she said.</p><p>Anomalies in several flood control projects were unearthed earlier this year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called out corrupt officials for useless anti-flood programs and released the full list of these infrastructure projects under his administration.</p><p>The President then created the ICI to have a focused investigations into the irregularities in flood control projects.</p><p>While several contractors and government officials have confessed to colluding with lawmakers to get kickbacks from these projects, all politicians tagged in various cases have denied involvement and wrongdoing.</p><p>Several groups are now gearing to a series of protests to urge the government to push for the incarceration of guilty parties and to recover billions-worth of taxpayers’ money.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/20/wrap-bulacan-protests-vs-alleged-corruption-in-flood-control-so-far-1640">WRAP: Bulacan protests vs. alleged corruption in flood control so far</a></div>

<p>Malacañang on Tuesday called for calm after a survey showed that majority of Filipinos want corrupt officials and contractors to be held accountable over the plundering of billions in taxes pilfered through ghost or substandard flood control projects.</p>

Malacañang on Tuesday called for calm after a survey showed that majority of Filipinos want corrupt officials and contractors to be held accountable over the plundering of billions in taxes pilfered through ghost or substandard flood control projects.

‘Kalma lang’: Palace calls for calm as public urges gov’t to hasten filing of cases vs corrupt officials

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‘Kalma lang’: Palace calls for calm as public urges gov’t to hasten filing of cases vs corrupt officials

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 14, 2025 02:39 PM PHT

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Malacañang

Flood control projects

Corruption

Claire Castro

ICI

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

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