HONG KONG — More than 100 Filipinos rallied outside the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong on Monday, commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the martial law declaration under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. while demanding accountability for alleged corruption in massive flood control projects back home.
The protesters gathered at the United Center in Admiralty, brandishing images of crocodiles and placards that lambasted corrupt officials, contractors, entrenched political dynasties and what they called a “pervasive rotten political system.” The symbolism of crocodiles underscored their accusations of government figures wallowing in stolen wealth amid persistent flooding issues despite trillions of pesos allocated to infrastructure.
Arlyn Jariva, chairperson of the Filipino Migrant Workers Union, voiced the group’s outrage over the disparity faced by overseas workers. “Filipino workers suffer while these thieves treat the nation’s coffers as their personal ATM,” she said.
Dolores Balladares Pelaez, chairperson of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, highlighted the struggles of migrants supporting families in the Philippines. “As we struggle to make ends meet on our meager wages, the corrupt enjoy lavish lives funded by our national resources,” she lamented.
Baneng Mendez, secretary general of Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) Hong Kong and Macau, tied the protest to broader systemic failures. “The Philippines is rich, yet Filipinos suffer in poverty,” Mendez said. “Despite trillions allocated to flood control projects, the flooding issues persist because this government is a government of crocodiles drowning in stolen wealth. We are poor because the government is stealing from us.”
Mendez also targeted current leaders, invoking the Marcos family’s legacy. “We will never forget that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the original ‘nepo baby,'” she said, referring to the president’s lineage. “If he truly opposes corruption, why have they not returned their ill-gotten wealth? The Dutertes are no different from the Marcoses. To this day, Sara Duterte has not been held accountable for the alleged misuse of confidential, intelligence, and DepEd funds.”
Vowing continued resistance, Mendez declared: “We will not be silenced. We will not stop until those responsible are held accountable and justice is served. We will continue fighting until this rotten system is changed.”
The demonstration concluded with the submission of a community statement to the Philippine Consulate, delivered through Consul General Romulo Israel Jr. The document called for justice and transparency regarding anomalies in the flood control initiatives.
The rally comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Philippine government spending, with critics pointing to unfinished or ineffective projects that have failed to mitigate annual flooding disasters despite substantial overblown budgets.
