Residents of San Jose Del Monte (SJDM), Bulacan collectively marched under the Concerned Citizens of SJDM on October 9, from the UCCP Sapang Palay Church front to Sampol Market. They called to hold all those corrupt and involved in corruption accountable, for solutions to the long-standing Primewater issue affecting residents, and for food security.
San Jose Del Monte now serves as a corruption issue epicenter as the Discaya couple named the newly-seated mayor and former congresswoman Florda Robes as a recipient of “kickbacks” from irregular flood-control projects in the Bulacan province.
A forum titled “Land, water and food security: People’s control over people’s resources” was also held that same day at the UCCP church as both a Concerned Citizens of SJDM preliminary event and Farmers’ Month marking.
The local government deployed SWAT members and a fire truck near the assembly area before the protest began. After the activity, traffic enforcers blocked and harassed those who were on their way home from the protest and issued tickets to jeepney drivers who served as the group’s transport. City government vehicles also reportedly patrolled around the church where the forum took place.
Prior to the SJDM protest, demonstrations were also held in several other towns in Bulacan, including Balagtas, Baliuag, Bocaue, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Paombong, and Pulilan.
