Ched Rick Gatchalian

Residents of Balagtas, Bulacan on Saturday, October 4, 2025, held an “anti-corruption” walk and prayer rally calling for accountability over the flood control scam. Facebook/Tindig Balagtas

Article (news)

​Balagtas, Bulacan residents hold 'anti-corruption' walk, prayer rally

Kaxandra Salonga

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/1759559265296557230937_122103045009027805_1041918217103823879_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Residents of Balagtas, Bulacan on Saturday, October 4, 2025, held an “anti-corruption” walk and prayer rally calling for accountability over the flood control scam. Facebook/Tindig Balagtas "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents of Balagtas, Bulacan on Saturday, October 4, 2025, held an “anti-corruption” walk and prayer rally calling for accountability over the flood control scam. <em>Facebook/Tindig Balagtas </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>BULACAN — After attending a mass at the Parokya ng San Lorenzo Diakono at Martyr, residents of Balagtas, Bulacan took to the flooded streets for an “anti-corruption” walk and prayer rally, urging for accountability over the flood control scam.</p><p>Balagtaseños carried placards on Saturday, October 4, as they marched through routes still submerged in floodwaters, heading toward the Balagtas Municipal Hall. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/2/coa-submits-fresh-audit-report-to-ici-flags-paid-ghost-projects-in-bulacan-1655"><strong>COA submits fresh audit report to ICI; flags ‘paid ghost projects’ in Bulacan</strong></a></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:551px;height:669px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1974351276092854320&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-10-04T06%3A51%3A26.327558%3A55b5ffa7-19d5-4789-a16f-409cbfda1e3a%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=df70d34b87c2efa50a772048ad53696b41074ced&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1974351276092854320"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The municipality ranks among the highest in the province in terms of the total value of flood control contracts. </p><p>The &quot;Sumbong sa Pangulo&quot; website indicates P3.25 billion worth of flood control contracts in Balagtas, the third highest in Bulacan after San Jose del Monte and Baliuag. </p><p>Balagtas is part of the 5th District of Bulacan, where Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr. previously served as representative.</p><p>Brice Hernandez, former assistant district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan, earlier identified Cruz and several other legislators as among those who allegedly received kickbacks from infrastructure projects in the province.</p><p>Multiple rallies have been held in different areas in Bulacan, the so-called &quot;epicenter&quot; of alleged corruption in flood control projects, following House and Senate hearings that discussed &quot;ghost&quot; flood control infrastructures in the province.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/20/wrap-bulacan-protests-vs-alleged-corruption-in-flood-control-so-far-1640"><strong>WRAP: Bulacan protests vs. alleged corruption in flood control so far</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;ROSARIO NI MARIA LABAN SA KATIWALIAN&#x27;</strong></div><p>Other church groups and youth organizations in Bulacan also held a prayer rally against corruption.</p><p>Participants gathered at Parokya ni San Isidro Labrador for “Rosaryo ni Maria laban sa Katiwalian,” a protest aimed to hold corrupt officials behind anomalous flood control projects accountable.</p><p>The event began with a Mass led by Rev. Fr. Len Hernandez, who prayed for “justice that every Filipino deserves.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:1119px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1974414969321263452&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-10-04T12%3A34%3A15.724240%3Aa014bc1e-e138-4333-bd8a-3593452515ce%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=e90e0ec4655775ba03d269c6b0c050968a95df95&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1974414969321263452"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Afterward, participants marched to Parokya ni Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion.</p><p>Parish youth commissions from San Isidro and Nuestra Señora, along with civil society and progressive groups Akbayan Youth, the August 21 Movement, and the Tindig Bulakan Coalition, joined the movement. </p><p>Students from Bulacan State University also took part in the protest, wearing white shirts and ribbons to symbolize their hopes for a ‘clean’ and honest government.</p><p>“Bilang produkto ng edukasyon na binubuwisan ng taong bayan, dapat lang po talaga na tumitindig tayo at talagang kinokondena po natin ang anumang klase ng katiwalian at pangungupit sa pera ng bayan,” said Nathalie Villanueva, a Bulacan State University student. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/3/dizon-wants-licenses-of-engineers-in-flood-control-mess-revoked-1234">Dizon asks PRC to revoke licenses of engineers, professionals linked to flood control anomalies</a></div><p>Protest participant Jim Cristobal said the rampant floods in their barangay pushed him to join the protest. </p><p>“Kasama ko po ang aking misis, para makiisa po hindi lang para sa sarili nating kapakanan kundi sa kapakanan po ng mamamayang nagdaranas ng hirap sa pagtaas ng tubig baha,” he said. </p><p>The march passed through Bambang, Bagumbayan, and San Jose Road before ending at Bulakan town plaza. </p><p>Police and disaster risk reduction officers were deployed to manage traffic and respond to possible medical emergencies.</p><p>The Commission on Audit earlier flagged nearly P327 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan as either non-existent or constructed on unapproved sites.</p><p>Protests will continue in Bocaue and Marilao on Sunday as part of the province’s campaign against corruption.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/10/4/-balagtas-bulacan-residents-hold-anti-corruption-walk-prayer-rally-1442">Balagtas, Bulacan residents hold &#x27;anti-corruption&#x27; walk, prayer rally</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eIEHeVqSztk?si=JwGdsL-fXpbBm0ow" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>After attending a mass at the Parokya ng San Lorenzo Diakono at Martyr, residents of Balagtas, Bulacan took to the streets for an “anti-corruption” walk and prayer rally, urging for accountability over the flood control scam.</p>

After attending a mass at the Parokya ng San Lorenzo Diakono at Martyr, residents of Balagtas, Bulacan took to the streets for an “anti-corruption” walk and prayer rally, urging for accountability over the flood control scam.