Christian leaders hailed the Trillion Peso March as “a miracle” after tens of thousands of Filipinos gathered at the People Power Monument on Sunday in a massive prayer rally against corruption, which organizers say is tied to misuse of a trillion-peso flood control budget.
“The Trillion Peso March, held at the People Power Monument, was nothing short of a miracle — a profound work of Divine Providence,” said Most Rev. Jose Colin Bagaforo, lead convenor of the Church Leaders Council for National Transformation (CLCNT). “With no funds to begin and only 11 days to prepare, we rallied more than 70,000 outraged citizens against the brazen and systemic corruption plaguing our nation.”
Bagaforo said the rally was joined by more than 83 civil society organizations, along with schools, universities, dioceses and faith communities. He expressed gratitude to donors, volunteers, and security forces who ensured the safety of participants.
“This miracle has only just begun,” Bagaforo said. “It inspires us through the tears, songs and fervent prayers of those who cried out for justice. It kindles a moral fire in our hearts to eradicate corruption once and for all. The battle against this despicable evil of corruption shall continue.”
The CLCNT, a coalition of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Muslim and Indigenous groups, organized the march as a peaceful, prayerful gathering. Organizers said the aim was to express public outrage over alleged systemic graft involving flood control projects.
The scandal centers on a trillion-peso allocation over the past decade, which critics say has failed to produce adequate infrastructure. Civil society leaders allege that corruption linked to the budget contributed to loss of lives and the displacement of thousands due to persistent flooding.
Organizers originally expected 30,000 participants, but their estimates of Sunday’s turnout were more than twice that number. Demonstrators marched from various starting points before converging at the monument. Many wore white shirts and ribbons to signal a nonpartisan stand against corruption.
The main program, which ran from 2 to 5:15 p.m., included prayers, testimonies, musical performances, and speeches from civic leaders. The event was community-funded, with donations collected onsite. Organizers stressed that the march was open to all citizens who peacefully and prayerfully supported anti-corruption and pro-peace advocacy.
“We extend our deepest thanks to our generous donors, those who ensured our security, the brave souls who shared powerful testimonies and speeches, the different government agencies, the performers and the tireless members of our various committees,” Bagaforo said.
Church leaders said the rally was only the beginning of a sustained moral campaign. They pledged to walk alongside citizens “just as Our Lord, the Good Shepherd, tends to His flock,” in the ongoing fight against graft.
Faith leaders also said the presence of young people, students and parish communities signaled broad support for reforms. Organizers vowed to maintain pressure for institutional accountability and transparency in government spending.
In earlier statements, faith leaders condemned the alleged flood control misuse as a “moral abomination” and called on government agencies to investigate those responsible. Christian Daily International previously reported that church leaders have been calling on Filipinos across all sectors, including clergy, public servants, and lay citizens, to rise in “prophetic witness” and press for accountability.
Bagaforo said the rally has set a precedent for future mobilizations. “Let us nurture this miracle until our demands are fully realized,” he said.
