Migrante International launched an online press conference on November 26 to officially announce the establishment of Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK, or People’s Movement Against Corruption)-Global. This international alliance is composed of Filipino migrants, women, youth, and church-based groups from different parts of the world.

Father Benjamin Alforque from the National Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns Inland Empire, Migrante International’s Josefina Pingkian, Malaya Movement USA’s Joy Sales, TAMA NA-Canada’s Apol Apuntar, Anakbayan Canada’s Efrel Cabaguio, Migrante Europe’s Gary Martinez, Migrante Middle East’s Sj Tomas, PCPR Australia’s Reverend Domingo Barawid, PCPR Italy’s Father Aristelo Miranda, and Migrante Hong Kong’s Lai Bisana explained the context of the newly formed alliance and the call of migrants during the press conference.

According to the alliance, the forced migration of Filipinos abroad resulting from the lack of jobs and social services is a clear manifestation of systematic corruption in the Philippines. By operating the government like a business or in the context of a bureaucrat-capitalist system, the government sells poor Filipino cheap labor abroad.

Migrant remittances account for up to 8.3% ($38.34 billion) of the 2024 Gross Domestic Product. It is infuriating that the funds earned through the sweat and blood of migrants end up in the pockets of a few instead of being allocated for the services and protection of migrants and their families. According to KBKK-Global, the current rotten system has become extremely unacceptable.

The alliance demands holding all those involved in corruption accountable and scrapping all anomalous funds in the government budget, such as pork barrel, intelligence and confidential funds, unprogrammed funds, and similar appropriations. Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte must also be removed from office, and the state must recognize and respect the people’s right to free expression and protest. The alliance also supports the establishment of a National Transition Council.

Being Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot, the alliance will also hold protest actions against rampant corruption in the Philippines in their respective countries on November 29 and 30, in time with the protest Baha sa Luneta 2.0 in the Philippines.

The protest actions are set in Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Middle East, Netherlands, US, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

The alliance will also launch Zero Remittance Day on December 18, or the suspension of sending money by OFWs to their families in the Philippines as a form of protest against corruption.

According to the alliance, organizations abroad will continue protesting until every corrupt official is held accountable and the stolen public funds are returned to the people.