Progressive organizations in Davao City and Southern Mindanao held a rally on Bonifacio Day, demanding answers over massive corruption allegations tied to the government's flood control infrastructure projects.
Peaceful Protest at Freedom Park
On November 30, 2025, approximately 200 members from various groups converged at Freedom Park along Roxas Avenue. This gathering was the local chapter of the synchronized Trillion Peso March, a nationwide movement. Participants called for accountability, insisting that large-scale corruption has plagued the administration's flood control initiatives. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) monitored the event, which proceeded peacefully without any major incidents.
Nationwide Calls for Resignation and Accountability
The Davao mobilization was part of a larger national action. Protesters across the country demanded the return of allegedly misused public funds and the resignation of officials linked to the scandal. Names cited included President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and several members of the Duterte family. In Metro Manila, the main protest site, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that the constitutional rights of the demonstrators were respected.
Groups that participated in Davao included:
- Bayan
- Kabataan Partylist
- Anakbayan
- Gabriela and Gabriela Youth Davao
- ACT Union Davao
The labor alliance KMU–Southern Mindanao Region emphasized that corruption is a systemic issue that disproportionately harms communities, workers, and the poorest sectors of society.
Arrests Fuel Public Outrage
The protest movement gained significant momentum following the recent arrest of eight officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Activists argue this development validates their long-standing claims of a deep-rooted corruption scheme within flood control projects. The Trillion Peso March movement, organized by a coalition of church groups, civil society, students, and labor unions, centers on allegations that roughly P1.9 trillion was allocated to flood control over 15 years, with more than half allegedly lost to corruption.
As public pressure intensifies, protest groups vow to continue their campaign. They assert that ensuring transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending is fundamental to restoring public trust in government institutions.
