The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on Filipinos to join a nationwide ‘Day of Prayer and Accountability’ against corruption, set for Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the EDSA People Power Monument.
The peaceful gathering, also dubbed the “Trillion Peso March,” is described by Church leaders as a moral and spiritual stand rather than a political protest. According to the CBCP, the event will serve as a moment of prayer, solidarity, and action against what it calls the “entrenched culture of corruption” that undermines dignity, deepens poverty, and threatens the country’s future.
CBCP President Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, Bishop of Kalookan, said the Church is urging parishes, basic ecclesial communities, Catholic schools, religious congregations, ecumenical groups, and civil society to participate. Other dioceses across the country are also expected to hold simultaneous rallies and prayer vigils.
“This is not meant to destabilize government but to strengthen democracy,” the bishops emphasized, adding that accountability must be pursued through due process and within the bounds of the Constitution.
In their call, the bishops laid out nine concrete steps for citizens and institutions, including vigilance against corruption, rejecting patronage politics, modeling honesty in daily life, countering disinformation, joining civic and parish initiatives, supporting an independent probe on alleged irregularities in flood-control projects and budget insertions, demanding justice for plundered funds, practicing transparency within the Church, and embracing modest lifestyles.
The statement also included a special appeal to the youth, urging them to use digital platforms responsibly to expose wrongdoing, promote truth, and build communities of conscience. Government employees and officials of integrity were likewise invited to participate as a sign that reform within public service is possible.
The bishops stressed that corruption is not just about stolen money, but also about “stolen futures” — from destroyed communities to missed opportunities for the next generation. They called on public officials implicated in irregularities to “choose conversion, make restitution, and repair the damage.”
The CBCP’s message concluded with a rallying cry: “Let us not meet corruption with apathy or violence, but with faith, courage, and unity. Let our gathering be a sign that the Filipino people, guided by faith, will no longer be passive.” (CBCP News)
