In the midst of the trillion-peso flood control anomalies that have scandalized the entire nation, a Negros-wide multi-sectoral alliance is set to lead thousands in Bacolod City to demand an end to systemic and massive corruption in government on Sunday, Nov. 30.
TAMA NA-Negros (Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw At Abusado Network Alliance) will lead a people’s anti-corruption march and rally in Bacolod City, its spokesman, former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, said on Tuesday.
Assembly points will be at the Capitol Park and Lagoon and the Sacred Heart Seminary at 12:30 p.m., he said. Participants will then march to the Bacolod Public Plaza.
The march rally is being held to demand transparency, accountability, and justice, as well as respect for Constitutional processes, Coscolluela said.
The TAMA NA-Negros anti-corruption alliance is composed of 27 people’s organizations, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, business groups, lawyers, professionals, media, youth, science and technology groups, transport groups, and anti-corruption watchdogs in Negros.
On Bonifacio Day – which commemorates the birth of the Filipino revolutionary Andres Bonifacio – TAMA NA-Negros, together with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod and the One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONE-C), will lead an estimated 7,000 participants, including the youth-led Katipunan ng mga Kabataan Laban sa Korapsyon, Coscolluela said.
The alliance seeks to end corruption through increased accountability, transparency, and justice in governance — and strongly urges independent audits of infrastructure and other projects as well as government development funds, backed by more robust public oversight, openness of government budgets, contracts, and so-called confidential funds, he said.
The coalition demands swift and decisive accountability over the corruption mess involving the entire Philippine system of governance, to include the heads of government offices, institutions, and agencies, whoever they may be, Coscolluela said.
This includes the call for Justice through Restitution or the return of ill-gotten wealth. And in the midst of political disunity and alleged calls for extra-constitutional reform measures, the Coalition also urges all concerned Filipinos to respect the Constitutional Process and the people’s sovereign will, he added.
“As the nation navigates these challenging times in search of justice and genuine service to the people, especially the poor and powerless, TAMA NA-Negros enjoins all concerned citizens in Negros island to join our call for transparency in government, accountability of corrupt officials, restitution or the return/confiscation of illegally-gained wealth, and utmost respect for constitutional process and the people’s voices of protest,” Coscolluela said.*