Plunderers rejoice: Protesters disunited against ‘Unithieves’

Disunity continues to plague anti-corruption groups. This, as flood works plunderers elude accountability.

Protesters are to hold two separate rallies today at EDSA, only a kilometer apart. One is at EDSA Shrine, 1-4 p.m. The other is at People Power Monument, 3-5 p.m.

They can’t agree on whom to hold accountable for the P1.7-trillion flood scam.

EDSA40 Committee, convened by catholic bishop Gerardo Alminaza, says both President Bongbong Marcos and VP Sara Duterte are answerable and should thus both resign. Their theme at the EDSA Shrine gathering is “Tuloy ang Laban sa Korapsyon at Kahirapan! Lahat ng Sangkot Dapat Managot!”

Trillion Peso March Movement, which features Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, wants VP Sara removed first, and BBM only later. Its demonstration at People Power Monument is generically “anti-corruption, anti-political dynasties.”

The factions agree only on calling the present admin “unithieves,” a play on BBM-Sara 2022 election running mates’ UniTeam.

“Trillion Peso March Movement declined the proposal for a joint rally and opted out of EDSA40,” ex-congressman Teddy Casiño posted on Facebook. He will be at EDSA Shrine with Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot, Artikulo XI, Bunyog, Movement Against Tyranny, Duterte Panagutin Network and a hundred other organizations.

“TPMM doesn’t want placards or banners calling for BBM’s resignation or ouster,” Casiño told this column Monday. “We at EDSA40 said the stage can carry the generic theme, but we can’t bar participants from raising placards or banners against BBM.”

Attempts to unite TPMM and Baha sa Luneta failed on Sept. 21 and Nov. 30 last year.

TPMM members SIKLAB, Tindig Pilipinas and Akbayan oppose calls for BBM’s resignation, impeachment or ouster. They argue that these would only benefit VP Sara as next in line of succession.

They also suspect radical elements in EDSA40 to be pushing for unconstitutional or violent means, like military junta and revolutionary government.

“Resign all or resign both is not extra-constitutional,” Liberal Party Rep. Edgar Erice clarified Monday. “It is very constitutional,” he told the radio program of Ted Failon and Czarina Guevara (True FM 105.9).

Erice cited the Constitution’s Article VII, Executive Department, Section 8: “In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term.

“In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of both the President and Vice-President, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall then act as President until the President or Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified.”

Erice, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader, is to speak at both events today. He denied reports that his LP will unite in Election 2028 with BBM’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and ex-speaker Martin Romualdez’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

Erice said his party holds BBM responsible for the admin’s corruption: “In 2023, P300 billion went to kalokohan; in 2024, another P500 billion; 2025, P473 billion. BBM should be held accountable.

“Corruption was not only in public works, but also in customs, BIR, irrigation, agriculture… government became a crime syndicate.  Nobody is made answerable.

“It affected the economy. GDP was only 4.4 percent, way below the 5.7 percent target. It was only three percent in the last quarter of 2025. Due to cover up of corruption, expect only 2.2 percent this first quarter of 2026. The poorest of the poor will bear the brunt.”

Anti-corruption groups lament that the admin isn’t going after the flood scammers.

Executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan and budget secretary Amena Pangandaman were removed. So were Malacañang Usec. Trygve Olaivar, Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer Adrian Bersamin and special envoy to China Maynard Ngu.

DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara had implicated them in multibillion-peso kickbacks yet no investigations or charges ensued.

Justice Usec. Jojo Cadiz was exposed as “BBM’s bagman.” His resignation was rejected.

After investigating the flood scam, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee initially recommended charges of non-bailable plunder and malversation. But members softened it to mere “investigation.”

The House of Reps dismissed two impeachment complaints against BBM. The first was weak, supposedly filed by a BBM gofer to constitutionally immunize him from any other complaint for a year. The stronger case filed by Bayan Muna and endorsed by Makabayan Bloc reps was rejected too.

Four impeachment raps have been filed against VP Sara. All center on her livestreamed admission to have talked to an assassin against BBM, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Romualdez. Also her P612-million misuse of OVP and DepEd confidential funds. Plus P2.2-billion undeclared bank deposits jointly with father ex-president Rody Duterte.

The four cases face rough sailing in the House, unlike the four filed against VP Sara in 2025, which was signed by 215 of 315 congressmen.

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