Church leaders are urging Filipinos to join the September 21 protest at the EDSA People Power Monument to demand accountability for alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in flood control projects.

The Church Leaders Council for National Transformation (CLCNT) denounced the irregularities as “economic sabotage” and “a moral abomination paid for by the poor.” 

They said investigations revealed that only 40 percent of flood control funds reached intended communities, while the rest were lost to ghost projects, substandard works, and political favoritism.

“This is not just a financial scandal. It is a betrayal of dignity and life itself. Every peso stolen is a life put at risk. Every corrupt deal is a flood that submerges our nation’s future,” Bishop Roberto Gaa of Novaliches said.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, president of Caritas Philippines, said the poor are “the first to drown in corruption,” adding, “We cannot remain silent while our people wade through floods that could have been prevented if public funds were used honestly.” 

“To steal what belongs to the poor is not only a crime against the nation, but a grave sin against God,” he said. 

Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Evangelical Churches of the Philippines appealed for solidarity. The prelate called on Filipinos, “regardless of faith, political color, or social standing, to set aside differences and unite in the spirit of EDSA.” 

“This is not just about one scandal. It is about reclaiming our future from the grip of corruption and impunity,” he said. 

The protest coincides with the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, which organizers said highlights “the enduring power of people’s unity against abuse, dictatorship, and corruption.”

The action is convened by the CLCNT and joined by a wide alliance that includes the Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM), Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, Concerned UP Vanguard, MAPSA, Sambayan, TAMA NA – Ateneo de Manila, Tindig Pilipinas, and its partners such as Alyansa Tigil Mina and Nagkakaisa Labor Coalition, and WAGI – Miriam College.

Organizers said the scandal reveals “a systemic rot in governance—where greed and impunity deepen poverty, devastate communities, and erode the common good.” 

They stressed that urban poor families, farmers, children, and the elderly bear the heaviest toll of floods made worse by corruption.

The Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR) echoed the call for resistance, warning that silence in the face of plunder “only benefits the exploiters.” 

Citing Psalm 12:5, the group said God calls the faithful to rise in defense of the poor, whose suffering is aggravated by massive flooding worsened by corruption.

In its Sept. 11 statement, PCPR condemned political dynasties and elites for allegedly using government systems to amass wealth and “flaunt their luxurious lifestyles” while poor families are left stranded, displaced, and vulnerable to disease. 

“The stench of this rot of corruption, a hallmark of bureaucrat capitalism, saturates the halls of power and is evidenced in the lifestyles of ruling elite,” it said.

The group urged Christians to exercise their prophetic ministry, pointing out that “bureaucrat capitalism is embedded in elite governance and patronage politics long plaguing our country.” 

It warned that corrupt lawmakers not only misuse public funds but also create policies to benefit the ruling class while suppressing dissent.

“Let storms of rage and protest flood the streets as a visible sign of our collective disgust,” the statement read. “Together we nurture HOPE! HOPE will always be a threat to corruption and power, because HOPE can ignite resistance and impassion people to fight back.”