Vice President Sara Duterte has voiced her support for Sunday’s planned protest against corruption, saying she hopes it will finally compel those in power to heed the frustrations of ordinary Filipinos.
Speaking ahead of the so-called “Trillion Peso March” scheduled on September 21, Duterte admitted uncertainty about whether mass actions in Metro Manila will influence the government’s response. “Hindi ko alam ‘yung rally sa EDSA at ‘yung rally sa National Capital Region… kung makakatulong pa ba ito para makinig ang gobyerno? Sana. ‘Yan ang dasal nating lahat, ’di ba?” she said in an interview in Tacurong City.
She stressed that people are not eager to disrupt their lives by joining rallies, but many feel they have no choice if their voices continue to be ignored. “Siguro ito na talaga ‘yung paraan para ba marinig nila,” Duterte added.
The Vice President also lamented that her role in national decision-making has been sidelined. “Nasasayangan ako para sa bayan dahil isinasantabi nila ‘yung isang tao na gusto lang magtrabaho,” she remarked.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for his part, earlier acknowledged public anger over alleged flood control anomalies, saying that if he were not president, he might have joined the protesters himself.
The demonstration comes as more than 200 sectoral and religious groups prepare to converge on major venues including Rizal Park and the EDSA Shrine. Organizers expect as many as 30,000 people to march on the same date that marks the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law by Marcos’ late father.
Students, church leaders, and progressive groups are set to take part, with rallies starting at 9 a.m. in Manila and 2 p.m. in Quezon City. The mobilization, framed as a stand against corruption and government inaction, underscores a growing call for accountability that many believe can no longer be silenced.
