Decades after the first indemnity claims filed against the Marcos dictatorship, a new class suit is underway as victims of corruption and climate injustice are once again demanding accountability against lawmakers, contractors, and government officials behind massive corruption in anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects.
The United People Against Corruption (UPAC) announced their intent to file an indemnity class suit before the Quezon City courts, citing the gross misuse of public funds under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that has led to recurring floods, property damage, and loss of lives and livelihoods across several marginalized communities and sectors.
UPAC is a metro-wide campaign network that aims to unify all Filipinos within Metro Manila in advocating for good governance and progressive change through the collective power of the people.
“Isa ito sa mga nakita naming paraan para maningil lalo’t biktima rin kami. Kung noon ay ang mga naging biktima ng Martial Law ang naningil sa rehimeng Marcos, ngayon kami namang mga biktima ng korapsyon at pagbaha ang naniningil sa mga may sala sa ilalim ng panibagong Marcos,” said UPAC convener Bishop Kiko Herrera.
Politics of impunity
UPAC emphasized that today’s systemic corruption in public works has also victimized millions of Filipinos, particularly the marginalized sector, through man-made disasters worsened by substandard or ghost projects; not to mention the insertions for such projects diverted for kickbacks, while leaving communities at stake against climate vulnerabilities and disasters.
“Hindi na puwedeng palampasin ang ganitong klase ng korapsyon. Habang ang mamamayan ay paulit-ulit na nalulubog sa baha, ang mga opisyal na ito ay nagpayaman sa kikbak. Hindi lang pagkakakulong ang dapat nilang harapin dapat din silang magbayad ng danyos sa mga pamilyang kanilang pinahamak,” said UPAC spokesperson Dr. Malou Turalde.
UPAC’s complaint initially targets four Quezon City legislators, namely: Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, Marvin Rillo, Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas, and Marivic Co-Pilar, who are implicated in anomalous DPWH projects exposed by Mayor Joy Belmonte. The group also names national political figures, including Senators Chiz Escudero, Bong Go, Mark Villar, and Alan Peter Cayetano, among others, for benefiting from or tolerating fund irregularities.
“Panagutin, ikulong, at pagbayarin!” or “accountability, justice, and compensation” is the rallying call of UPAC in seeking to pursue a class suit to hold public officials and contractors accountable under the Marcos Jr. administration.
The hypocrisy of the anti-corruption front
UPAC also highlighted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bears direct responsibility for the sociopolitical environment that enables impunity.
On October 7, Marcos Jr. appointed his Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, Jesus Crispin Remulla, as the new Ombudsman and will serve for a term of seven years or until 2032.
The group criticized Remulla’s appointment as it poses serious concerns over conflict of interest and independence, especially in prosecuting corruption cases.
One of UPAC conveners, Alyansa ng Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon spokesperson Ruben Gabas lambasted this development, noting that it comes as Marcos’ family and cronies have recorded “unprecedented court victories” under Marcos Jr.’s watch. Many of these cases involve the recovery of ill-gotten wealth initially pursued by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
“Madali pa naman maassociate ang apelyidong Marcos sa pagnanakaw, tapos pagkakatiwalaan natin araw-araw.” Gabas stressed.
UPAC also noted the resignation of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday, October 6, as chairperson of the blue ribbon committee, following statements of concern from fellow senators regarding the direction of the flood control investigation.
Serving as the Metropolitan Command Intelligence and Security Group (MISG) from 1971 to 1986, UPAC said Lacson’s record hardly qualifies him as a moral compass, particularly noting the glaring cases of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings during the grim horrors of martial law.
UPAC added that Lacson’s pattern of avoidance and political survival only mirrors the very system he now criticizes.
The group noted that in 2013, Lacson resigned from his post as the rehabilitation czar for Supertyphoon Yolanda amid the “lack of transparency and coordination” among agencies.
Several reports revealed that of the P73.3 billion in international aid, only P17.2 billion or 23% was released due to bureaucratic mismanagement and fund opacity.
“Mahirap tingnan araw-araw sa TV na ang nagtatanong sa magnanakaw ay kapwa magnanakaw,” Gabas added.
UPAC also criticized the Infrastructure Corruption Investigation (ICI) unit, which handles probes into DPWH projects, saying it can only issue recommendations to the Office of the Ombudsman, the supposed watchdog against graft and corruption. The group noted that such recommendations leading to prosecutions are still decided within an executive structure controlled by Marcos Jr.
“Kaya kung titignan, sino ang may hawak sa hustisya? Office of the President iyon.” Gabas added. “Kaya dapat ibalik sa mamamayan ang kapangyarihang maningil.”
For Gabas, the class suit is more than a legal action. It is a call to reclaim people’s participation in democracy.
“Araw araw tayong may kapasyahang pumili ng pulitikang buubhay sa atin, at sa kabilang banda ang papatay rin sa atin. Kaya binibigay natin ngayon ang kapangyarihan sa kamay ng mga tao na nagluklok sa mga lider na yan na ibalik sa kanila ang kapasyahan na kaya nilang magtanggal, kaya nilang magsampa ng kaso, kaya nila maningil.” Gabas said.
Also serving as UPAC’s convener, Kyusi 4 Truth and Accountability spokesperson Lorevie Caalaman shared that they are mobilizing affected families and communities in the coming weeks as they finalize the complaint’s documentation, intending to file the case before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court later this week.
“Kung may itinuro man ang karanasan ng mga Pilipino kasagsagan ng malagim na batas militar, ito ay ang hustisyang pinatatagal ay hindi kailanman hustisyang naipagkakait kundi paulit-ulit na ipinaglalaban ng mamamayan,” said Caalaman.
