Another Trillion Peso March Set On June 28

Leaders of the Catholic church and other religious groups and civil society organizations will hold another big rally at the EDSA People Power Monument on June 28, Sunday, in a continuation of the Trillion Peso March as they push for accountability amid the corruption scandal in the country.

At a press conference, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine (CBCP) InterReligious Leaders’ Council for National Transformation lead convenor and Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo said rally will be dubbed the “White Ribbon Movement March.”

“We will have a big rally this June 28, 2026 and we will do this at the People Power Monument. It will be led by the Inter-Religious Leaders Council for National Transformation. We emphasize that this rally is therefore faith-based, faith-generated and the product of discernment by the council formed through prayer, listening and shared responsibility before God,” Bagaforo said.

He added that the rally is meant to again remind the government that Filipinos deserve a better future.

“We believe that a better future can only be achieved through better politics, politics that serves the people’s interests, protects human dignity and is guided by justice rather than greed,” he said. 

Bagaforo said participants will start to march at noon toward the People Power Monument.

According to Bagaforo, those involved in corruption should be held accountable and should be jailed.

He said participants will also push for the implementation of a real anti-political dynasty law.

“We should start implementing what is written in the Constitution about the political dynasty and the so-called electoral reforms, change the mechanism and system of our electoral system,” the bishop said.

A Trillion Peso March series was held amid the ghost project scandal in the country. 

“We invite all religious organizations, civil society organizations, non-government organizations, educational associations, farm workers, fishermen, laborers to join and rally with us, together we will pray, we will pray that God will hear our prayers and may the hearts of our political leaders, may the hearts of those who are guilty, may they change and listen to the voice of the people and to the voice of the Lord,” he added. 

Win: No cover-up

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday, June 1, denied his predecessor Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s allegation that the new leadership would cover up for the masterminds in the flood control mess.

Speaking to radio dzMM, Gatchalian said the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo would continue the investigation that was started last year by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

As for the 18 alleged “bagmen” or bodyguards of fugitive Zaldy Co who have accused several administration officials and allies of receiving flood control kickbacks in suitcases, Gatchalian said they were invited to attend the June 8 Blue Ribbon consultative meeting, but they chose to hold a press briefing in Sen. Robin Padilla’s office instead.

He said the opportunity for them to tell the truth was wasted.

Gatchalian dared the men to separately issue affidavits to back up their sweeping claims they delivered kickbacks in suitcases to several lawmakers and officials, instead of resorting to media fanfare.

The new Senate President also vowed to cooperate with the Supreme Court that is conducting oral arguments on the petitions challenging the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations and the billions in alleged “budget insertions” in the General Appropriations Act.

In an interview in Cebu City, Sen. Risa Hontiveros echoed Gatchalian’s remarks denying Cayetano’s claims of a cover-up.

“I don’t know what cover-up Senator Alan is talking about,” she said, adding that the 18 alleged bagmen were invited to the Blue Ribbon consultative meeting, which they chose to ignore.

New Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III in the meantime scoffed when asked to react to the latest Facebook Live session of Cayetano.

“It’s not good for the country. Let’s move on to more urgent issues to help our countrymen,” Sotto said. – With an additional report from Marc Jayson Cayabyab