‘Marcos ug Duterte, Walay Kalahian’: Cebu progressive groups push for people’s transition council on Bonifacio Day protest

Various multi-sectoral groups in Cebu staged a mobilization against systemic corruption on Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day, where they called for the resignation of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Sara Duterte and the formation of a National Transition Council.

Bayan Central Visayas (Bayan-CenVis) Chairman Jaime Paglinawan stressed that full accountability for the large-scale corruption can only be achieved if Marcos Jr., Duterte, and other involved public officials step down from their posts.

“Parehong involved sa grabeng korapsyon ang presidente na si Bongbong Marcos ug ang bise-presidente na si Sara Duterte ug uban pang mga sakop sa ahensya sa gobyerno,” Paglinawan said in an interview with Explained PH. “Nananawagan ta na mahiya naman sila, nga dapat sila mu-resign.” 

(“Both president Bongbong Marcos and vice-president Sara Duterte and other officials of government agencies are involved in the corruption scandal. We are calling for them to be ashamed to the Filipino people and resign.”)

He condemned the alleged roles of Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the flood control projects scandal, both of whom former Ako-Bicol Congressman Zaldy Co’s claimed to have received P57 billion in kickbacks from P100 billion in 2025 budget insertions. 

These infrastructure anomalies linked to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), he pointed out, worsened the widespread damage from recent typhoons that struck the province.

Moreover, Anakbayan Cebu chairperson Kei Galon stressed that holding public officials accountable would require addressing the nature of the current administration, which she described as bureaucratic capitalists and politicians running the government as a business bent on serving foreign interests.

“Giila nato na bisag kinsa ang politiko nga makalingkod sa ilang posisyon, naa gyud nay basbas sa mga negosyante ug ilabi na sa imperyalistang amo nila sa Estados Unidos,” she said. 

(“Whoever get to have a sit in the government, they would still serve the interests of big compradors and U.S. imperialists.”)

Galon asserted that both Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte must be held liable for their corruption cases and that it should not be a matter of choosing one to resign over the other.

(“If we just call for Marcos Jr. to be removed and not Duterte, it’s possible that Duterte will take over, and take advantage of this outrage over corruption to secure the position.”)

Reasons cited for the call on Duterte’s resignation include her misappropriation of confidential funds and her failure to commit to increasing the teaching supplies allowance and providing laptops when she was the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

‘Representatives for the people’

Through the coalition Kalihukang Sugboanon Kontra Korapsyon (Kasukko), the progressive groups echo the call for a civilian-led transition council once the president and vice president resign. 

The proposed council consists of leaders from sectoral groups, including peasants, workers, women, and youth, who would assume leadership until a new, legitimate administration is established.

“Dili succession ang atoang tumong kung dili kaning giingon nato nga People’s Transition Council, nga ang nagkumpusar mga laing-laing sektor sa atong katilingban,” Paglinawan said.

(“We’re not calling for succession. We’re calling for People’s Transition Council composed of representatives of different sectors in the country.”)

He added that it would include non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and alliances against government corruption.

“Usa sa ilang unang trabahuon, magpapriso sa mga involved, dili pinili ug dili pagdepensa sa presidente o bise-presidente,” he added, noting that only through its formation would transparency ug accountability to long-enabled systemic corruption be realized. 

(“One of their first tasks will be to have those involved imprisoned, and not to defend sides between the president or vice-president.”)

Alongside dismantling systemic corruption, the council would then push for a livable wage, genuine agrarian reforms, and expanded access to healthcare. 

Anakbayan CTU chairperson Neil Krystal Calvo spoke about the relevance of having representatives keen on the issues affecting the sectors. 

 “Pariha sa youth, kita man kahibaw unsay mga kailangan nato sa edukasyon. So dapat kita ang murepresent sa atoa dili kanang mga sektor na dili lubog sa ilang gisakupan,” she said. 

(“Just like the youth, we are the ones who know our demands in education. So, we should be the ones representing ourselves, not those who don’t know about the students’ conditions.”)

First put forward as an alternative during the Arroyo administration, Bayan noted that the People’s Transition Council could pave forward a “fair, honest and truly democratic election process.”