By ALFRED GABOT

Editor in Chief

MANILA/SAN FRANCISCO – Angry and frustrated groups, including students from state universities and private schools, have scheduled a series of mass rallies in Manila and other key cities nationwide in a continuing protests to denounce “unprecedented” and “massive” corruption exposed in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The  biggest of the latest planned rallies will be on November 30, celebrated in the country as Andres Bonifacio Day, which organizers said would be bigger than the “Trillion Peso March” in EDSA, Luneta and Mendiola last September 21.

Meanwhile, another yet big rally initially set to be joined by 300,000 was set by the influential Iglesia ni Cristo for three days on Nov. 17 to 19 at the Quirino grandstand, Rizal Park in Manila. (See related stories)

As a buildup for the nationwide protests, several rallies are scheduled throughout November such as the Weekly Black Friday protests on November 7, 14, 21 and 28 planned in various areas.

Filipinos in the United States, particularly in California, said they are keenly watching the developments on the fight against corruption back home while they monitor continuing threats on Filipino migrants, more than 150 of whom have been arrested, detained or deported under the immigration crackdown by US President Donald Trump. 

The Philippine Department of Foreign Afffairs, through its embassy and consulates in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Honolulu and others said they are also monitoring developments in the US and the Philippines, especially those held by US immigration authorities.

In Hawaii, NAFCON and community partners, Hawaiʻi Filipinos for Truth, Justice, and Democracy (HFTJD) and University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Hawaiʻi (UPAAH) held an educational discussion on the corruption investigations in the Philippines with Sonny Africa, Executive Director of IBON Foundation, and Nerissa Allegretti, President of the NAFCON, leading the panelists.

“Learn about the situation on the ground and the latest developments in the corruption investigation, why it affects Filipinos abroad, and how our voices in the diaspora can make a difference,” the group stated in a social media post.

Other groups spearheading their own march protest rallies are the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK) and the Working People Against Corruption—a coalition of labor unions and groups, including BPO and entertainment industry workers which planned a protest against corruption on November 14.

University groups such as the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), on the other hand, are planning a protest on November 17, following the celebration of International Students’ Day.

The Health Alliance for Democracy is urging healthcare workers to hold silent protests in their workplaces by wearing shirts bearing their calls as part of the “Health Workers’ Day of Action” on November 21.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was ready to maintain peace and order during the protest rallies, committing at least 10,000 policemen for the Iglesia ni Cristo rallies alone.

Malacanang immediately downplayed the planned demonstrations, and appealed to protesters joining to avoid violence, expressing hope that there would be no repeat of the chaotic rallies held on Sept. 21.

“The only concern I have when we have demonstrations for whatever reason is that there are agitators who will go and try to cause trouble. What if a demonstrator goes to a demonstration with Molotov cocktails that are not intending to cause trouble or to hurt people?” Marcos said in South Korea while attending the Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Summit.

“Those are the people that we are worried about. And those are the people that we are watching out for. We have a good idea of who they are. And I hope that they don’t [do that again]. Tanggalin na ninyo sa isip ninyo ‘yan. Manggugulo kayo (Please stop thinking about sowing violence),” he added.

Marcos was referring to the Sept. 21 protest actions denouncing corruption, where some demonstrators clashed with the police at the foot of the Ayala Bridge leading to Malacanang in Manila and along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Marcos said violence would do no good, lamenting that it would only end up injuring others, including police officers deployed to maintain peace and order.

“They’re just there to control the crowd. They’re not there to hurt anyone. So that’s the only thing I worry about. Because we know the reasons for this. The reason is the outrage,” he said.

Marcos stressed that while he understands the public anger over rampant corruption in government, violence is not the answer to the problem.

Nevertheless, he said he respects public sentiments on unresolved corruption issues.

“You know, those funds are supposed to go to people to feed people, to make their lives better. And that all disappears because they’re buying airplanes and buying big mansions kung saan saan (everywhere). It’s, you know, of course they’ll be angry. Isipin mo, ang buhay nila ganyan, kami gutom (Imagine, they live like that while we’re starving. How can you be happy?” he said.