“Let’s keep in mind that it is vital to call for the admission of guilt from the offenders. The return of stolen wealth and justice – coupled with appropriate punishment – is essential,” Caritas Philippines executive director Fr. Carmelo Caluag said.

Organizers of the Trillion Peso March and civic group members hold a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2025, for the third anti-corruption protest on Feb. 25, 2026. Photo from Tindig Pilipinas Facebook page

The campaign against corruption will continue on Feb. 25, as church and multi-civic groups hold the third Trillion Peso March during the 40th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt.

Caritas Philippines executive director Fr. Carmelo Caluag and Buhay Ang People Power campaign convenor Kiko Aquino Dee said on Wednesday, Feb. 11, the movement against corruption and political dynasties continues with the 40th anniversary theme of the EDSA revolution: “Tayo ang People Power Laban sa Korupsyon at Dinastiya! Noon. Ngayon. Bukas.”

“We will discuss the struggle against the dictator (former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.) and compare the corruption in the past and the corruption happening today, and we will see that it is sad that 40 years later, we still feel the same pain,” Dee said.

They will also appeal for the passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Law.

Last Tuesday, Feb. 10, President Marcos included the passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Law as one of the 21 priority laws targeted to be passed by June.

Dee credited the multi-sectoral groups that have been campaigning against the reign of political dynasties in government. He believed that Marcos would not have listed the bill as a priority if his administration was not facing a crisis.

Dee reminded the people that the power to effect changes in the country lies in their hands. “Everything that happened from 1986 onwards, there are people that should be held accountable. However, we also contributed to the problem, to the solution and we could contribute to what could happen in the future,” he said.

Caluag added that the church is for the “rule of law and the respect of the Constitution.”

“Let’s keep in mind that it is vital to call for the admission of guilt from the offenders. The return of stolen wealth and justice – coupled with appropriate punishment – is essential. Only then can true healing begin,” he said.

On Feb. 25 they would also be calling for the prosecution of big fish perpetrators in the flood control scandal, recover the ill-gotten wealth from all plunderers, justice for past and present human rights abuses, form a truth commission, ensure reparations for extrajudicial killing victims during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte and to defend historical truths and counter revisionism, especially during the martial law years.

There would also be a prayer march from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. from EDSA Shrine to Club Filipino to commemorate the oath-taking of former president Corazon Aquino.

The main program would be from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the People Power Monument, to be followed by a high mass presided over by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

The organizers could not give an estimate on the number of people who will show up, but said the activity will be replicated in the 86 dioceses of the Catholic Church.