The Tignay Ilocandia Kontra Korapsyon (Tignay Ilocandia Against Corruption) protests were successfully launched as part of the national people’s protest against corruption, as well as a commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law in La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Laoag City on September 21. Nearly 2,000 youth-students, farmers, fisherfolk, national minorities, women, church people, environmental defenders, teachers, and business owners participated in the rallies.

La Union Peace and Justice Advocates, Defend Ilocos Sur, Kaammoyo ti Kappia, Ilocos Human Rights Alliance, Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation, Kabataan Partylist, Anakbayan, and Gabriela and other progressive groups led the protest. They resolutely stood their ground despite the Philippine National Police’s harassment and attempts to disrupt their activities.

In separate rallies, the groups exposed and condemned the suffering that the Ilocos people experience from flooding caused by irregularities in flood control projects and the dilapidated drainage system resulting from rampant government neglect in many towns and communities in the region. Protesters emphasized the questionable dredging of Isla Verde Mining and Development Corporation at the Abra River estuary, which was falsely presented as a flood control project but only worsened flooding in the communities of Caoayan, Santa, and Vigan City.

The environmentalist group Defend Ilocos Sur exposed that this project was not for flood control since the company ignored experts’ statement that dredging should be in the river, not in the sea. Residents already suspected early on that the dredging served black sand mining.

Farmers also exposed and condemned anew the systematic corruption of funds from tobacco excise tax that should have gone to subsidies and services for tobacco production, but were being controlled and used by high LGU officials for self-aggrandizing projects and vote-buying.

Ilocos student-youths showed high militancy in condemning the rampant plunder of public funds while the budget for education—including that of Ilocos state universities and colleges (SUC)—continues to be cut. In the demonstration, they shouted that Marcos is the king of thieves. They called to hold the corrupt accountable, transform the system, dismantle the culture of greed, and replace it with a government that truly serves the people.

In Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, the Marcoses’ province, protesters shouted “Marcos thief!” and “Marcos dictator, puppet, fascist!” while marching to the provincial capitol, where they held the rally. They recalled that fascist Marcos Sr committed horrific human rights violations in the province, including the massacre in Bangui town, summary killings, abductions, and other acts of violence during Martial Law.

Kaammoyo ti Kappia condemned the continuing and intensifying human rights violations under the current Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration, whose state agents harass and repress church people who uphold human rights.

Even before September 21, NICA and CIDG agents already surveilled and harassed Fr. Randy Manicap and Fr. Arvin Mangrubang, priests from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente church who are active in environmental and human rights campaigns. In Barangay Maradodon, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, the PNP also visited and threatened Teresita Talibuguen, a leader who led farmers in pushing for higher tobacco prices at the Tobacco Pre-Tripartite Conference.

The protest persisted and pushed through despite PNP and intelligence agents’ threats, harassment of organizers, and schemes to obstruct the activity.

In Laoag City, the protesters obtained a permit for the protest in Aurora Park. However, on the day of the rally, PNP troops preemptively occupied the park for a concert aimed to grab the masses’ attention and disrupt the protest. Despite this, protesters voiced their grievances and demands, receiving wide media coverage.

Prior to this, La Union Peace and Justice Alliance condemned the PNP for threatening their group in their planned protest and imposing the “no permit, no rally” policy. They argued that, from experience, even when given permits, they are forced to protest in places far from the public. They declared that “such threats only proves the PNP protects the corrupt.” They challenged the PNP to join the protest to prove they are against corruption and not its protectors.

On September 21, while in the rally, two policemen took pictures of the house of Ilocos Norte farmer leader Edgar Estavillo. Estavillo continues to be harassed by the military and police.

Amid this harassment, progressive groups united under Tignay Ilocandia Kontra Korapsyon vowed to continue the struggle and firmly stand in solidarity with the national movement to hold the Marcos regime accountable for rampant corruption in the country.