Filipino alliance in Canada demands transparency, systemic reform in PH

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
December 2, 2025

TAMA NA. The TAMA NA Coalition Canada held a program in front of the Philippine Consulate Office in Toronto on Friday, demanding transparency and systemic reform in the Philippines amid massive corruption scandals (Nov. 28, 2025). (Screengrab from Joe-Patty Rivera/Facebook)

TORONTO, Ontario — The TAMA NA (Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado) Coalition Canada and other multi-sectoral groups held a protest on Friday to demand transparency from the Philippine government in addressing the systemic corruption in the country.

Before the program, the group leaders had an earlier dialogue with the Philippine Consulate Office in Toronto to submit their “TAMA NA Coalition Petition Against Corruption” back to the Philippines.

The petition focused on pressing for transparency in the conduct of corruption investigations into the flood control mess, holding involved officials accountable, and urging full disclosure of information to the Aksyon fund, allocated for migrant workers’ legal aid, repatriation, and other welfare needs.

The coalition is said to receive an update about their petition in the next 30 days.

Meanwhile, in a speech in front of the consulate’s office, TAMA NA Coalition Canada spokesperson Apol Apuntar stressed the collective frustrations of Filipino migrant workers in Canada, whose remittances from their hard labor are among those being siphoned by the elite few.

“Ang malawakang korapsyon na nangyayari ngayon sa Pilipinas ay hindi nagsimula lamang noong nanungkulan si Marcos Jr.—systemic ang corruption problem sa Pilipinas kaya hindi uubra na ang mangyari ay palitan lamang natin ang kasalukuyang arkitekto ng korapsyon nang isa pang dinastiya rin (Duterte) na involved din sa mga korapsyon,” he said.

(The widespread corruption happening right now in the Philippine government did not start when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office—the corruption problem in the Philippines is, in fact, systemic. Therefore, replacing the current architect of corruption with another political dynasty, the Dutertes, is not a viable solution.)

The alliance also joined the extant calls by left-winged groups in the Philippines for the establishment of a national transition council alongside the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Bagama’t malayo tayo sa Pilipinas, apektado pa rin tayo ng korapsyon na nagaganap dahil in the first place kaya maraming mga Pilipino ang napipilitang mangibang bayan ay dahil sa kakulangan ng opportunity sa Pilipinas: itinutulak tayo ng krisis,” Apuntar said. “Hindi tayo mapipilitan na mangibang bayan para lamang kumita nang mas malaki, [nang] malayo sa ating mga pamilya, kung mayro’n lang din namang opportunity sa Pilipinas.” 

(Although we are far from the Philippines, we are also affected by the corruption happening there because, in the first place, many Filipinos are forced to work abroad due to a lack of opportunities in our homeland; we are driven by a crisis. We would not be forced to work in a foreign country just to earn more, far from our families, if only there were an opportunity back in the Philippines.)

Christopher Sorio, Secretary-General of Migrante Canada, said in an OMNI News interview that they will lead a “No Remittance Day” global action on December 18 to showcase their anger against the Philippine government’s neglect.

“Nananawagan tayo sa mga kababayan natin na huwag munang magpadala sa Pilipinas, [sa] isang araw lang na ‘to, para ito’y pagpapakita na kung gaano kahalaga ang galit ng mga migranteng Pilipino sa kapabayaan ng gobyerno,” he said.

(We are calling on our fellow Filipinos to halt their remittance to the Philippines, just for a day on December 18, to essentially express the anger of the Filipino migrant workers due to the negligence of the government.)