The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued a strong call to action against corruption, urging Filipinos to join the “Trillion Peso March (Day of Prayer and Accountability)” on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. at the EDSA People Power Monument.
Declaring “Enough is enough,” the bishops said the peaceful gathering is not a political protest but a moral stand against the entrenched culture of corruption that continues to rob Filipinos of dignity, deepen poverty, and betray the nation’s future.
“This gathering is not a political spectacle, but a moral stand,” said CBCP President Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David, Bishop of Kalookan.
“It is a moment of prayer, solidarity, and action.”
The CBCP encouraged dioceses, parishes, Catholic schools, and civic groups outside Metro Manila to organize simultaneous prayer rallies in their local communities.
“We encourage similar initiatives in all ecclesiastical jurisdictions across the country, as a sign of solidarity in this nationwide day of peaceful witness,” the bishops said.
In their pastoral statement, the bishops appealed to lawmakers, oversight bodies, and prosecutors to act decisively and end the cycle of impunity.
“Our people deserve concrete solutions—not empty rhetoric, not endless political grandstanding, not the usual delaying tactics. Enough is enough! We will no longer accept that this investigation simply die a natural death, like so many before it that eventually ended in political accommodations and compromises,” the statement said apparently referring to the ongoing investigations into the massive irregularities in flood control projects.;
They also challenged those who have enriched themselves at the expense of the poor to heed the biblical call to Zacchaeus. “Come down from your arrogance and greed. Choose conversion, make restitution, and repair the damage you have caused. There can be no true peace without justice, and no justice without repentance.”
The CBCP emphasized that corruption must be confronted not with apathy or violence, but with faith, courage, unity, and peaceful action.
“Let our gathering be a sign that the Filipino people, guided by faith, will no longer be passive,” the bishops said.
“Let us stand firm for truth, justice, and renewal. Together, let us be ‘innocent as doves, clever as serpents,’ and builders of a nation where justice and honesty prevail.” (Jel Santos)
