22/09/2025
With the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the country, we remember the atrocities the Filipino people were subjected to under the regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. With its declaration, the country was subject to an era of brutality, terror, and injustice. Any forms of protest would also be silenced, with many student activists falling victim. His tyrannical rule brought up 11,103 documented human rights violations, in which victims were killed, tortured, r***d, and sexually abused–yet these numbers represent only the recorded instances, with the true extent of the atrocities far greater.[1] Ultimately, billions of pesos would also be plundered by Marcos Sr. and his cronies through kickbacks on public infrastructure funding.[2]
The same shameless and vile pattern of corruption from the era of Martial Law now alarmingly appears to be repeated under the current Marcos-Duterte administration. Several instances of wide-scale corruption behind the country’s flood control projects have recently been divulged, with many reports showing that as much as 546 billion pesos was spent on flood control projects between 2022 and 2025, yet many communities and sectors are left to suffer from losses.[3] Despite this, it has been estimated that our economy has lost up to between 42.3 billion pesos to 118.5 billion pesos on ghost and sub-standard projects of the DPWH.[4] Money that could have been utilized towards the betterment of our country simply disappeared and for worse, calls for better protection against natural calamities fell on deaf ears. Destroyed homes, displaced settlements, injuries and even the deaths of our fellow countrymen are left unanswered to this day, leaving multiple sectors of society to remain vulnerable and at risk. To make the issue worse, multiple lawmakers, politicians, and personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways would also be linked to the contractors responsible for these anomalous infrastructural projects,[5] indicating that our very own leaders have systematically and deliberately chosen to put their selfish need for personal gain over the safety and security of our countrymen. As people continue to suffer, several DPWH engineers continue to flaunt their lavish lifestyle without any regard to the consequences of their failures and disregard for their responsibilities for the people they supposedly serve.[6]
The UP Alpha Sigma Fraternity denounces these overt displays of corruption and the lack of accountability and transparency from our government officials. Filipino citizens have every right to see and benefit from how their taxes are used without the disruption of those in power seizing it for their personal agendas. May these officials have their eyes opened and their ears widened towards the cries of the people, reminding them that the true essence of service is not found in self-interest or empty promises, but in their duty to uplift the lives of those they swore to represent. Authority is not a privilege to exploit, but a responsibility to honor, and we Filipinos deserve nothing less.
The Fraternity urges the Filipino people to no longer tolerate these violations against our most fundamental needs and common interests. We call on the youth to never lose the courage to speak up and to let their voices be heard in the pursuit of truth and justice. Students must take charge and lead this fight from the frontlines. We call upon the Filipino masses to join in the clamors for change and to support the youth in their movements. We demand justice and accountability for those responsible for such wide-scale corruption, for which concrete responses should be produced over false promises. Let us continue to uphold the interest of the country and of our fellow Filipinos.
Carrying the legacy of those who stood up against Martial Law during the first People Power Revolution, those gathering in EDSA and Luneta today now become part of history themselves. Marching as one nation, it is now our turn to step up. Upon our shoulders rests not only the cries of the present generation, but also the will of those who came before us and the hopes of those to come.
Never Forget, Never Again.
Alay sa Sambayanan!
—
References:
[1] Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, Roll of Victims, Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, August 23, 2023, at https://hrvvmc.gov.ph/roll-of-victims/... (September 21, 2025).
[2] JC Punongbayan, [In This Economy] Flood control corruption during the time of Marcos Sr., Rappler, September 19, 2025, at https://www.rappler.com/.../in-this-economy-flood.../ (September 21, 2025).
[3] Cristina Eloisa Baclig, Billions flow to flood control, but not to save us from rising waters, INQUIRER.NET, August 29, 2025, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/.../billions-flow-to-flood... (September 21, 2025).
[4] Charles Abarca, Ghost flood control projects cost PH economy over P118B - Recto. INQUIRER.NET, September 2, 2025, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/.../ghost-flood-control... (September 21, 2025).
[5] James Patrick Cruz, Lawmakers and construction firm contractors: The ties that bind, Rappler, August 18, 2025, https://www.rappler.com/.../senator-congressman.../ (September 21, 2025)
[6] Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, Victoria Tulad, Senate Blue Ribbon panel cites ex-DPWH exec in contempt over casino grilling, ABS-CBN News, September 8, 2025, at https://www.abs-cbn.com/.../senate-panel-cites-ex-dpwh... (September 21, 2025).
With the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the country, we remember the atrocities the Filipino people were subjected to under the regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. With its declaration, the country was subject to an era of brutality, terror, and injustice. Any forms of protest would also be silenced, with many student activists falling victim. His tyrannical rule brought up 11,103 documented human rights violations, in which victims were killed, tortured, r***d, and sexually abused–yet these numbers represent only the recorded instances, with the true extent of the atrocities far greater.[1] Ultimately, billions of pesos would also be plundered by Marcos Sr. and his cronies through kickbacks on public infrastructure funding.[2]
The same shameless and vile pattern of corruption from the era of Martial Law now alarmingly appears to be repeated under the current Marcos-Duterte administration. Several instances of wide-scale corruption behind the country’s flood control projects have recently been divulged, with many reports showing that as much as 546 billion pesos was spent on flood control projects between 2022 and 2025, yet many communities and sectors are left to suffer from losses.[3] Despite this, it has been estimated that our economy has lost up to between 42.3 billion pesos to 118.5 billion pesos on ghost and sub-standard projects of the DPWH.[4] Money that could have been utilized towards the betterment of our country simply disappeared and for worse, calls for better protection against natural calamities fell on deaf ears. Destroyed homes, displaced settlements, injuries and even the deaths of our fellow countrymen are left unanswered to this day, leaving multiple sectors of society to remain vulnerable and at risk. To make the issue worse, multiple lawmakers, politicians, and personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways would also be linked to the contractors responsible for these anomalous infrastructural projects,[5] indicating that our very own leaders have systematically and deliberately chosen to put their selfish need for personal gain over the safety and security of our countrymen. As people continue to suffer, several DPWH engineers continue to flaunt their lavish lifestyle without any regard to the consequences of their failures and disregard for their responsibilities for the people they supposedly serve.[6]
The UP Alpha Sigma Fraternity denounces these overt displays of corruption and the lack of accountability and transparency from our government officials. Filipino citizens have every right to see and benefit from how their taxes are used without the disruption of those in power seizing it for their personal agendas. May these officials have their eyes opened and their ears widened towards the cries of the people, reminding them that the true essence of service is not found in self-interest or empty promises, but in their duty to uplift the lives of those they swore to represent. Authority is not a privilege to exploit, but a responsibility to honor, and we Filipinos deserve nothing less.
The Fraternity urges the Filipino people to no longer tolerate these violations against our most fundamental needs and common interests. We call on the youth to never lose the courage to speak up and to let their voices be heard in the pursuit of truth and justice. Students must take charge and lead this fight from the frontlines. We call upon the Filipino masses to join in the clamors for change and to support the youth in their movements. We demand justice and accountability for those responsible for such wide-scale corruption, for which concrete responses should be produced over false promises. Let us continue to uphold the interest of the country and of our fellow Filipinos.
Carrying the legacy of those who stood up against Martial Law during the first People Power Revolution, those gathering in EDSA and Luneta today now become part of history themselves. Marching as one nation, it is now our turn to step up. Upon our shoulders rests not only the cries of the present generation, but also the will of those who came before us and the hopes of those to come.
Never Forget, Never Again.
Alay sa Sambayanan!
—
References:
[1] Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, Roll of Victims, Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, August 23, 2023, at https://hrvvmc.gov.ph/roll-of-victims/ #:~:text=The%20Roll%20of%20Victims%20is,divided%20into%20this%20point%20system (September 21, 2025).
[2] JC Punongbayan, [In This Economy] Flood control corruption during the time of Marcos Sr., Rappler, September 19, 2025, at https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/in-this-economy-flood-control-corruption-during-time-marcos-sr/ (September 21, 2025).
[3] Cristina Eloisa Baclig, Billions flow to flood control, but not to save us from rising waters, INQUIRER.NET, August 29, 2025, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2101987/billions-flow-to-flood-control-but-not-to-save-us-from-rising-waters (September 21, 2025).
[4] Charles Abarca, Ghost flood control projects cost PH economy over P118B - Recto. INQUIRER.NET, September 2, 2025, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2103619/ghost-flood-control-projects-cost-ph-economy-over-p118b-recto (September 21, 2025).
[5] James Patrick Cruz, Lawmakers and construction firm contractors: The ties that bind, Rappler, August 18, 2025, https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/senator-congressman-construction-firms-contractor-ties/ (September 21, 2025)
[6] Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, Victoria Tulad, Senate Blue Ribbon panel cites ex-DPWH exec in contempt over casino grilling, ABS-CBN News, September 8, 2025, at https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/senate-panel-cites-ex-dpwh-exec-in-contempt-over-casino-grilling-1247 (September 21, 2025).
