AT least a thousands protesters gathered in Cagayan de Oro today, September 21, as part of a nationwide ‘Trillion Peso March’ to demand accountability for alleged government corruption.
The demonstrations coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines.
The ‘Kagay-an Kontra Korapsyon’ protest, a local offshoot of the national movement, was organized by a multi-sectoral alliance of religious leaders, civil society groups and students.
The protesters marched from St. Augustine de Hippo Metro Cathedral to De Lara Park, where speakers called for the prosecution of officials involved in alleged anomalies and the signing of bank secrecy waivers by all government officials.
The protest comes amid public outrage over a scandal involving alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Organizers of the nationwide protest movement, including church and civil society groups, say the demonstrations aim to highlight the loss of public funds due to corruption.
The Police Regional Office 10 deployed more than 3,000 personnel to ensure peace and order, and said it would exercise maximum tolerance while respecting the right to protest.
