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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Thousands join unity walk, inter-faith vigil vs corruption

Thousands join unity walk, inter-faith vigil vs corruption

Published Sep 22, 2025 02:44 pm
Thousands of people participated in the Unity Walk, Inter-Faith Prayer Vigil, and Candle Lighting against corruption in Calumpit, Bulacan on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Freddie Velez)
Thousands of people participated in the Unity Walk, Inter-Faith Prayer Vigil, and Candle Lighting against corruption in Calumpit, Bulacan on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Freddie Velez)

More than 2,000 Bulakenyos joined the protest rally on Sunday, Sept. 21, and called for accountability in government for the anomalous flood control projects.

The “Unity Walk” began at around 3:30 p.m. led by Calumpit Mayor Lem Faustino, Vice Mayor Zsar Candelaria, members of the Municipal Council, town hall employees, and participants from various sectors, including farmers, students, and teachers, marching in solidarity with the nationwide protest against corruption. 

Faustino said her town has long endured flooding and residents had lost hope in finding a solution to the perennial problem, particularly when they learned there was a flood control project that was supposed to protect them but failed to.

She explained that if the large amount allocated for the project had been used properly and not embezzled, it could have effectively protected their town, preventing the people’s anger and resentment from escalating.

“Nabigyan na sana kami ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng panangga sa baha, subalit ang pondo ng flood control project ay ibinulsa lamang diumano ng ilang tiwaling pinagkatiwalaan ng taong bayan,” Faustino said. (We should have been given protection against floods but the funds for the flood control project were embezzled by corrupt officials.)

She added that there should be inter-agency coordination with local governments to ensure accountability, transparency, and proper monitoring of such projects.

Faustino also said residents remain hopeful, knowing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed his commitment to hold accountable those who are involved in fraud, plunder, and ghost flood control projects.

By 6:30 p.m., Calumpiteños, along with various sectors and religious groups, gathered at El Mercado de Calumpit for an Inter-Faith Prayer Vigil and Candle Lighting program.

According to Faustino, this was only the beginning of their collective actions and demands which will continue in the coming days to ensure that those responsible will be held accountable.

The participants called for justice, truth, and transparency. Farmers, who said they have long been unable to farm due to their submerged fields, cried out for justice: “Kami ang magsasaka na walang sinasaka” (We are farmers without farms to till).

They vowed that the voice of the Calumpiteños against flooding and corruption would not be silenced until a concrete solution is provided to their long-standing flood problem.

Meanwhile, Mayor Faustino condemned the spread of false information on social media by certain individuals, whom she suspects are accomplices and defenders of those responsible for the misuse of flood control funds.

She clarified that the circulating photos being used to insinuate her involvement in the anomaly were taken from their official Facebook page and had been deliberately misrepresented.

The photos, she said, were from public activities where it was normal to be photographed with former DPWH officials and senators.

“Wala sa mga kuhang ito ang nagpapatunay ng pakikibahagi o pagkakasangkot natin sa anumang anomalya. Tahasan naming sinasabi: Wala po tayong kinalaman o nalalaman sa anumang maanomalyang transaksyon kaugnay ng flood control projects. Ang mga proyektong ito ay hindi kailanman dumaan sa lokal na pamahalaan. Mula sa pagpaplano hanggang sa implementasyon, ito ay direktang isinagawa ng pambansang pamahalaan, partikular, ng DPWH,” Faustino stressed. 

(None of these photos prove our involvement in any anomaly. We categorically state: We have no knowledge or participation in anomalous transactions related to flood control projects. These were never handled by the local government. From planning to implementation, they were directly undertaken by the national government, particularly the DPWH.)

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