Manila: The ‘white ribbons’ march against corruption

Thousands took part in the demonstration on EDSA, organised by the Council of Interfaith Leaders with the support of the Bishops’ Conference. The Bishop of Kidapawan, Monsignor Bagaforo, said: “Abuses of power, impunity and political dynasties must be tackled decisively in the interests of the common good.”

Manila (AsiaNews) – Thousands of Filipinos took part on Sunday 28 June in the White Ribbon March, organised by religious groups and civil society organisations, to demand truth, accountability, good governance and justice at the People Power Monument on EDSA.

Bishop Colin Bagaforo, of the Diocese of Kidapawan and the main driving force behind the Council of Interfaith Leaders for National Transformation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), stated that the march was organised to call on government authorities to promote transparency and accountability in the corruption cases that have long plagued the country.

According to Bagaforo, the demonstration called for integrity, accountability, transparency and good governance from public officials in all programmes and policies. He also highlighted the need to tackle corruption, abuse of power, impunity and political dynasties decisively, in the interests of the common good.

He also pointed out that the protest march, organised by citizens, remained non-partisan and politically neutral. It was led by the Council of Interfaith Leaders for National Transformation, which, amongst other activities, mobilises public support for electoral reforms.

Catholics who took part in the demonstration, wearing white clothing or displaying white ribbons as a symbol of their call for truth, attended Mass celebrated at midday at the EDSA shrine and presided over by Bishop Bagaforo.

Protestant Bishop Efraim Tendero, also one of the organisers of the White Ribbon March, stated that Catholic, Muslim, Evangelical and Protestant leaders had taken part in the march, united in a common call to tackle the problem of corruption.

A few days before the march, the CBCP had called on Catholics across the country to organise similar peaceful demonstrations. “Those who, guided by their conscience and local circumstances, wish to take part in this peaceful gathering may do so in a spirit of prayer and respect,” wrote the Archbishop of Lipa, Gilbert Garcera, president of the CBCP, in a pastoral letter dated 22 June. The prelate urged everyone to remain hopeful despite the decline in public trust in institutions and the numerous incidents of corruption and injustice, exacerbated by social challenges.

The demonstration on 28 June is linked to the Trillion Peso March protests, which took place on 25 February to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution. “I took part in the demonstration because it provides a public forum to demand accountability and transparency from public authorities and officials involved in corruption scandals,” Michael Pineda, a university student, told AsiaNews.