Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Clergy holds prayer-protest at Camp Crame, calls for police reform, integrity

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priests

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964104333cropped-20250904060924_e3cd68ff-0769-46e3-a1af-612b24f95297.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Clergy holds prayer-protest at Camp Crame, calls for police reform, integrity. Karen de Guzman, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Priests in sackcloth and ashes knelt in prayer outside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame on Thursday, staging what they called an “Ayuno, Dasal, Sakripisyo sa Pagbabago”, a prayer-protest urging integrity and reform within the police force.</p><p>The protest was led by activist priest Father Robert Reyes, convenor of the Clergy for Good Governance (CGG), who lamented what he described as a setback in police morale following the sudden dismissal of former PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III.</p><p>“Nung siya naging PNP, tumaas ang dangal ng mga kapulisan. Kasi you have one decent police officer. At kung hindi kay General Torre, nandito pa si Duterte, nagpi-people power araw-araw. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan si Bongbong Marcos, bakit nag-kompromiso na naman siya,” Reyes said.</p><p>The group denounced not only issues hounding the police but also the corruption in government infrastructure projects, particularly in flood control programs of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).</p><p>He pointed to politicians and contractors linked to the controversy whom he described as “napakadumi,” saying their collusion robs Filipinos of dignity and development.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/coa-to-file-charges-against-dpwh-officials-contractors-over-ghost-flood-projects-1209">COA to file charges vs DPWH officials, contractors over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood projects &#x27;this month&#x27;</a></div><p>“‘Yung mga nepo babies at ‘yung mga magulang nila, sila dapat magsuot ng sako para paalala sa inyo, pinanganak tayo sa mundong dukha,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MASS ACTION VS CORRUPTION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The activist priest warned that growing public outrage over corruption and neglect could eventually ignite calls for a new wave of mass action similar to past uprisings.</p><p>“Galit na galit po ang tao sa mga contractor. Palagay ko isa sa magiging mitsa ito. Nakikita ang mga gutom na gutom na walang bahay at biktima ng baha. Sila po ang dapat tumatanggap ng biyaya, tulong ng gobyerno, nasa bulsa pala ng mga contractor at mga politiko.”</p><p>Police closed the gates of Camp Crame during the protest, with several officers stationed at the entrance.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/pnp-chief-nicolas-torre-relieved-from-post-palace-0813">Torre sacked as PNP chief as Marcos backs Napolcom authority</a></div><p>An official later came out to receive a letter addressed to Torre, which Reyes said contained prayers and words of support.</p><p>Before dispersing peacefully, the clergy prayed over the policemen manning the barricades.</p><p>They vowed to continue staging similar protests to sustain their call for reform within the police force and accountability in government.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RlZ5e2fIwr4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The group denounced not only issues hounding the police but also the corruption in government infrastructure projects.</p>

The group denounced not only issues hounding the police but also the corruption in government infrastructure projects.

'Galit na ang tao': Priests stage prayer-protest at Crame to decry Torre firing, DPWH corruption

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'Galit na ang tao': Priests stage prayer-protest at Crame to decry Torre firing, DPWH corruption

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 04, 2025 01:44 PM PHT

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Prayer

Protest

Nicolas Torre

PNP

Philippine National Police

Flood control project

DPWH

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