Field tracker · Philippines · Southeast Asia

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - White Ribbon Movement launches long-term mobilization against corruption and political dynasties

Manila – A long-term civic mobilization focusing on key social, political and cultural issues in the Philippines has begun with the June 28 march organized by the White Ribbon Movement. The initiative was promoted and coordinated by the Interreligious Leaders Council for National Transformation , with the support and active participation of representatives from the Philippine Catholic community. The peaceful march, which drew thousands of participants through the streets of Manila on June 28, "is a faith-based, nonpartisan public demonstration to call for truth, accountability, justice and integrity in public life," explained Gilbert Garcera, Archbishop of Lipa and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, in a statement. Emphasizing the spiritual dimension of change, Archbishop Garcera said: "Our nation stands at a difficult crossroads. We see truth being set aside, justice delayed, and division weakening the fabric of our society. Yet we do not lose hope." José Colin Bagaforo, Bishop of Kidapawan, one of the movement's leading figures, celebrated the opening Mass of the June 28 event at the EDSA Monument in Manila and reaffirmed the movement's goals: "We are calling for integrity, accountability, transparency and good governance. Corruption, abuse of power, impunity and political dynasties must be addressed decisively in the interest of the common good." The march was not conceived as a one-off protest but as the starting point of a structured campaign built around three main political, social and cultural pillars, aimed at turning public demonstrations into lasting institutional reforms. First and foremost, the movement intends to increase pressure on political institutions by monitoring impeachment proceedings and judicial investigations. It is calling for transparency in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and in the Senate's Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into the scandal involving public funds and so-called "ghost projects" intended for flood prevention that allegedly disappeared through corruption. The movement is also urging the Ombudsman to pursue prosecutions regardless of political affiliation. A second priority is the adoption of legislation addressing the country's long-standing problem of political dynasties: through a nationwide signature campaign, the movement plans to introduce a people's initiative bill to enforce the constitutional prohibition—long ignored—against the concentration of political power within family clans. On the political front, the movement has also announced its support for a national campaign to reform the electoral system and political financing, with the aim of reducing vote-buying and ensuring full transparency in campaign funding. Arguing that these issues are crucial for the country's future, organizers say public awareness efforts will continue in local communities. Following initiatives already launched in the Archdiocese of Cebu and other dioceses, white ribbons will be permanently displayed in schools, offices and private vehicles as a visible symbol of civic vigilance. A significant contribution will also come from the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines , which plans to organize prayer assemblies and public forums in schools and universities across the country to encourage responsible citizenship among young people. As an interreligious initiative, the movement will establish local committees made up of Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical and Muslim leaders to monitor the use of public funds for municipal infrastructure projects. Speaking to Fides, Bishop Bagaforo explained that "the long-term objective is to dismantle a mentality and culture that regard corruption as something normal." To this end, the movement plans to organize concerts, street theatre performances and artistic competitions centered on integrity and social justice, with a particular focus on engaging young people. Within the Catholic community, Bagaforo added, "we will launch educational programs based on the Church's Social Doctrine and on discernment, in order to encourage voters to reject vote-selling during elections and to raise awareness of every citizen's social and political responsibility." The movement also intends to address the issue of online propaganda disseminated by political clans, often accompanied by fake news. Dedicated task forces will be established to verify the implementation of public infrastructure projects and the allocation of government funds. The White Ribbon Movement reiterates that it will remain strictly non-partisan and non-violent. Its white ribbon symbol is intended to foster a "collective critical conscience" that demands honesty and transparency from everyone in government. Corruption in the Philippines remains endemic, systemic and deeply interwined in the country's political and economic structures. The country ranks 114th out of 180 nations in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Corruption has devastating human consequences, diverting vital resources away from healthcare, poverty reduction and development. Over the past year, the issue has returned to the forefront following the scandal involving "ghost projects" linked to flood control and prevention funds. Thousands of dams, canals and flood barriers that were to be built under projects funded by the Department of Public Works, with an estimated value of 118 billion pesos , were either never completed or were constructed using substandard materials. According to the allegations, a network involving lawmakers, government engineers and private companies, more than 75 percent of the allocated budgets was wasted on corruption, leaving vulnerable territories and communities exposed to the devastating impact of typhoons.

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