Again, the People Demand Justice:
Against Systematic Corruption
in the Highest Echelons of Power
EDSA shrine, Luneta park, and Mendiola has once again become the theater of popular resistance. Recent mass mobilizations, now known as the “Trillion Peso March” and “Baha sa Luneta,” have revealed a growing determination among the Filipino people: they will no longer tolerate leaders whose loyalty is to personal enrichment rather than the nation.
The twin regimes of Marcos Jr. and Duterte have been shaken by mounting allegations of corruption and political scandal. Yet instead of confronting the truth, both factions have sought to deflect responsibility, accusing one another while failing to acknowledge that their interests have long been intertwined. The result is a governance system that serves privilege over the public good, profit over welfare, and patronage over principle.
Socioeconomic Sabotage at the People’s Expense
The consequences of this unholy alliance are visible across the nation. Citizens have borne the brunt of substandard infrastructure, poorly executed flood control projects, and recurring disasters exacerbated by political negligence. Construction firms accused of bribing officials for lucrative contracts have delivered shoddy or unbuilt works, leaving communities exposed to preventable calamities.
Observers note that this is not merely a failure of administration, but a deliberate sabotage of the people’s socioeconomic well-being. The diversion of public funds, mismanagement of the national budget, and prioritization of political cronies have created a system in which the basic rights and security of ordinary Filipinos are systematically subordinated to private interests.
The Call for Accountability is Clear
Thousands of citizens have taken to the streets, demanding that those implicated in corruption be prosecuted, without fear or favor. The call is direct: both Marcos and Duterte must face the consequences of their actions. According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), President Marcos Jr bears principal responsibility, having proposed, signed, and implemented budgets riddled with corruption and cronyism. “His actions demonstrate a clear betrayal of the public trust, enriching allies and endangering the welfare of the nation,” the group states.
And contrary to mainline thinking that by removing Marcos jr. meant putting Vice President Duterte to the presidency? Unlikely and cannot be especially for a corrupt appendage who wanted a bloodbath, for BAYAN emphasizes, shemust also be held accountable. Duterte is accused of abusing her authority as vice president, mismanaging confidential and intelligence funds sourced from the public treasury, and exploiting her position to serve personal and political objectives.
Again, people realise the reality that Marcos and Duterte are both aides of the same coin meant to be discarded. For honestly speaking, why support both corrupt on the basis of lesser against greater evils? The people demand justice that's beyond choosing who's SOB for that long suffering and exploited country such as the Philippines.
Systematic Cover-Ups and the Betrayal of Justice
Even more troubling is the systematic cover-up surrounding these investigations. Rolling inquiries into corruption are reportedly designed not to uncover truth or deliver justice, but to shield Marcos and his principal accomplices from prosecution. As BAYAN notes, “The mechanisms of accountability have been deliberately subverted. Investigations serve as smokescreens to perpetuate impunity, ensuring that the architects of corruption evade justice while the people suffer.”
Such cover-ups and orchestrated blame games only aggravate the tensions faced by the people. For both these ruling factions, pointing fingers or performing saber rattlings is far less about achieving justice and far more about subverting it to serve their own interests. Investigations are delayed, facts are obfuscated, and accountability is continually deferred.
Figures like Zaldy Co, who have benefited from both the Marcos and Duterte administrations, have become emblematic of this system of opportunism. Once regarded as a competent technocrat by some, he now stands exposed in the eyes of the public as a man whose loyalty lies not with the nation but with personal gain. The people see him exploiting both regimes, manipulating circumstances to enrich himself, and ignoring the welfare of those he was meant to serve.
The people as the guardians of justice
In this struggle, the people themselves have become the guardians of justice. Citizens, workers, students, and activists alike have demonstrated vigilance and courage, refusing to be silenced or distracted by political theatrics. Their mobilizations signal a broader awakening: a demand for transparency, integrity, and governance that truly serves the public interest.
History will remember this moment. The Filipino people have spoken. Marcos and Duterte, their allies, and their enablers have been exposed for their betrayal of public trust. The nation watches, and the call is clear: corruption must be punished, accountability enforced, and leadership restored to those who serve the people rather than exploit them.
The message from the streets is unequivocal. No office, no title, no lineage can place an individual above the law. The betrayal of public funds, the abuse of authority, and the exploitation of citizens’ trust will not go unchallenged. As the nation rises, it signals that the era of impunity may be at an end. The people demand justice, and justice, sooner or later, will be served.