On the eve of the historic Trillion Peso March, twelve surviving delegates of the 1971 Constitutional Convention have issued a powerful manifesto condemning what they describe as “blatant injustices and staggering corruption” gripping the nation.

In a rare unified statement, the signatories — including Senator Richard Gordon, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., and former Cabinet members, diplomats, and jurists — called out the “deliberate pillage of billions in infrastructure funds” and the “lavish lifestyles of officials, their families and friends, funded by the taxpayer’s money.”

“There must be zero tolerance for graft and corruption,” the manifesto declares, urging strict enforcement of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Plunder Act.

The group implored key institutions — the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Judiciary, and Civil Service Commission — to uphold their independence and resist political interference.

Addressing the Filipino public, the delegates reminded citizens that the Constitution “belongs to you,” and urged vigilance in defending democratic principles.

To public officials, they issued a stern reminder: 

“The power you hold is not yours—it is the people’s. Serve them with utmost responsibility, honor, integrity, humility, and transparency.”

The statement carries symbolic heft, coming from framers of the post-Martial Law Constitution. Their message echoes the spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution and aligns with the growing public outrage ahead of Sunday’s mass protest.

“We must learn from the abuses of our past,” the delegates warned. “If we fail to do so, we will never break the cycle.”

The manifesto ends with a rallying cry: “Let us reclaim our country—together.”