The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is now openly calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign from power over their involvement in rampant government corruption. The alliance asserts that as king and queen of corruption, they must be removed from office and imprisoned for plundering the nation’s coffers.

Filipinos are dismayed that no one has been held accountable or jailed after several months since the so-called investigations started. Those involved in these anomalies divert blame to one another and use government agencies and commissions themselves for a large-scale cover-up. No genuine accountability and justice is imminent as long as Marcos and Duterte continue to hold power.

Bayan is pushing for the establishment of a transition council to take over government administration and promote the interests of the Filipino people if the corrupt leaders are ousted. The council will consist of individuals and groups representing democratic sectors who led the anti-corruption movement and the campaign to remove Marcos and Duterte.

Zaldy Co’s exposés

Directly implicating Marcos as the official with the largest “insertion” in the 2025 budget, former Representative Zaldy Co’s exposé further fueled public outrage. He said Marcos ordered him to include ₱100 billion that was promised to him by Marcos’ cousin Martin Romualdez.

Co also released a list of projects that received the ₱100 billion fund Marcos inserted. Of this, ₱81 billion consists of infrastructure projects, with 80% designated for flood control projects. Co said Marcos pockets a 25% kickback from these projects. Co and his family’s companies are among those who clinched hundreds of contracts for flood control and other infrastructure.

After Co’s exposé, Marcos dismissed his Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and his grandnephew Adrian Bersamin, as well as Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and her partner, Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar. Co identified these four as Marcos’ operators who seized billions in kickbacks.

Broadening calls for accountability

Big and small protest actions demanding accountability continue to be held in Metro Manila and the provinces. Many activities are led by organizations belonging to the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK, or People’s Movement Against Corruption).

Hundreds of National Capital Region (NCR) residents, mostly from the ranks of workers and urban poor, joined the Lakbayan ng Mamamayan Kontra Korapsyon (People’s March Against Corruption) on November 7. They marched towards Mendiola. On that same day, the KBKK also stormed and made noise at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City. Health workers from various hospitals, and teachers from 212 schools in NCR also protested. Workers and unions in Laguna also held actions.

On November 14, another march was organized in Mendiola. On that day, protest actions were also held in seven cities in Metro Manila, as well as in Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, and the cities of Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao. On the same day, workers, migrants, and students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) held coordinated protest actions. Meanwhile, workers launched “rise-up protests” at their respective workplaces.

About 3,000 individuals joined the second run against corruption at UP Diliman on November 16. A concert against corruption was held in Angeles City, Pampanga that same day. In the succeeding days starting November 17, fisherfolk groups launched protest actions along the Manila Bay coast.

On November 17 and 18, the youth once again mobilized nationwide, led by Youth Rage Against Corruption. Meanwhile, a women’s group in Quezon City also staged a noise barrage on November 20.