Philippine Military Bishop Leads Church in Uniform in Support of Anti-Corruption Protest

Amid coup rumors, mounting corruption scandals, and a widening political rift between President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines has declared its strong support for the “Trillion Peso March.”

In a statement released on 25 Nov, Military Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio urged clergy, chaplains, and uniformed Catholics to “take a moral stand” and join the Nov. 30 protest by wearing white as a symbol of truth and accountability. 

He warned that silence in the face of corruption “amounts to complicity,” adding that the country cannot heal without honesty in public service and a decisive rejection of abuses of power.

Florencio said the Church’s role is not to engage in partisan politics but to “uphold the moral order” at a time when public trust in institutions is being tested. 

He emphasized that corruption “steals from the poor” and weakens the nation’s democratic foundations, especially when large-scale anomalies remain unresolved.

The bishop also appealed for sobriety and peace, reminding the faithful that the Nov. 30 gathering must remain nonviolent. 

“We walk for justice, not division,” he said, urging participants to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions amid the political friction between the Marcos and Duterte camps.

His statement makes the Military Ordinariate one of the most prominent Church-linked institutions to publicly support the mobilization, which has drawn endorsements from civil society groups, religious communities, and youth organizations frustrated by what they describe as widespread and systemic corruption.

Organizers of the “Trillion Peso March” say the protest aims to demand a full accounting of alleged anomalies involving confidential funds, procurement processes, and misuse of public resources. They are calling for transparency, independent investigations, and stronger safeguards against political interference.

Despite coup rumors circulating in recent weeks, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces have repeatedly dismissed the speculation, insisting that the military remains professional and loyal to the Constitution. 

Florencio’s message, though addressed to Catholics in uniform, underscored the chaplaincy’s alignment with a nonviolent, democratic path.

His statement adds to a growing wave of religious support for the Nov. 30 mobilization. 

Roman Catholic dioceses across the country, along with several non-Catholic churches, have announced that they, too, would take part in the rally, framing it as a collective moral stand against corruption.

The Nov. 30 march coincides with Bonifacio Day, which Florencio described as a “reminder that courage and integrity remain the country’s unfinished revolution.”