The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) is preparing to hold another large-scale protest against corruption in Manila on Sept. 21, its secretary general Mong Palatino said Thursday.

According to a report by RH Jecelle Ricafort, Palatino said the group is targeting Manila as the site of the protest, although details of the planned demonstration are still being finalized.

The planned action comes after the Sandiganbayan granted the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to drop former Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan as a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in cases involving alleged ₱500 million in flood control kickbacks.

Palatino said removing Bonoan from the graft and plunder cases was an insult to calls for accountability and justice, particularly as parts of Central Luzon continue to suffer from flooding.

He said the filing of charges against Bonoan had previously been presented as proof that the government was serious about its campaign against corruption.

Palatino described the decision to remove Bonoan as a “shameful maneuver” by the administration, alleging that it was intended to shield the president and his allies from accountability over what he called the systematic theft of public funds.

BAYAN has yet to announce the final venue, program and participating organizations for the Sept. 21 protest.