By Malaya Canada | September 20, 2025
Fifty-three years ago, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law, ushering in over a decade of dictatorship marked by plunder, repression, and the silencing of dissent. Today, under his son’s administration, we witness the same patterns of corruption and impunity — now disguised in the rhetoric of “development” and “disaster response.”
This is why we at Malaya Canada stand firmly with the September 21 protest movement. We do not only remember the atrocities of the past; we confront the scandals of the present — especially the massive misuse of public funds under President Marcos Jr.
Since 2023, over ₱1 trillion (USD 17.58 billion) has been approved for flood control projects. Yet when the rains came — from the July monsoon downpours to devastating typhoons — communities remained submerged, lives were lost, and critical infrastructure crumbled. Where did the money go?
This echoes a troubling pattern seen under previous administrations — from Estrada’s gambling kickbacks to Arroyo’s overpriced deals, and Aquino’s pork barrel scams. The Marcos Jr. flood control budget appears to be the latest cover for plunder.
But the corruption doesn’t end there. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has channeled billions into so-called “Barangay Development Programs.” Shockingly, not a single one of the 885 projects slated for 2024 has been completed. Meanwhile, funds continue flowing — into the pockets of military cronies, contractors, and ghost projects — as schools, hospitals, and livelihood programs go underfunded.
This is corruption to the highest degree. Every peso stolen is a service denied to Filipinos. Every fake project fuels red-tagging, militarization, and state terror. It is the poor — the workers, farmers, women, and youth — who bear the cost.
Impunity is the fuel that powers this system. It’s why former President Duterte now faces charges at the International Criminal Court. It’s why the international community must hold the Marcos Jr. administration accountable, not prop it up with military and political backing.
We say: Kurakot, managot! Lahat ng Korap at Magnanakaw, Managot! The corrupt must be held accountable.
On September 21, we raise our voices — for justice, truth, and accountability — and for a Philippines where public funds truly serve the Filipino people!