Students from universities across the University Belt (U-Belt) and nearby cities participated in a united walkout protest on Friday, Oct. 17 as part of the “National Day of Action Against Corruption,” amid the corruption scandal involving flood-control projects.
An estimated 5,000 students joined the march, with some 60 Thomasians participating in the walkout.
The protest was prompted by allegations of massive corruption in flood-control projects, with the public still barred from witnessing the probe by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure.
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co said the movement was a continuation of the youth’s fight against corruption and injustice.
“Ito ang paraan natin para i-resist ‘yong gulong politikal na status quo upheld by President Marcos Jr. sa pagpirma niya ng mga budget at pag-continue na mag-shield ng accountability from his allies,” Co told the Varsitarian.
Co also raised safety concerns over the presence of “wires with razor blades” in Mendiola, which she said could harm protesters.
“Nakakasakit ito. Hindi lamang ito deterrent, ito ay actively puwedeng makapaglagay ng unnecessary harm sa kabataan. Nakita natin ito bilang exhibit kung sino nga ba ang nagdadala ng pinsala sa kabataan,” she said.
Kilusang Mayo Uno National Chairperson Jerome Adonis, who also participated in the protest, said students and the working class shared the same struggle against corruption.
“Kayo bilang estudyante, kung ngayon ninanakaw na ‘yung buwis para sa edukasyon, ninanakawan kayo ng kinabukasan. So, kami mga manggagawa same din, mababa ang sahod, mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin,” he said.
Students who joined the protest carried their own advocacies as they condemned corruption.
Joaquin Buenaflor, chairperson of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman University Student Council, said they proposed to unify the calls against corruption among students to create a larger force.
“Kahit sobrang dami pagkilos, two months na nakalipas, wala pa rin nananagot, wala pa rin nakukulong…kailangan iakyat na ‘yong laban by combining ‘yong forces natin,” he said.
Participating students from UP Diliman staged a local walkout, subsequent to its Sept. 12 “Black Friday Protest,” before heading to P. Noval Street to converge with U-Belt participants.
Gianna Geronimo of UP Diliman said the effects of insufficient government funding are felt within state universities.
“Kung ano nangyayari sa labas, ‘yon din makakaapekto sa nangyayari sa atin sa pamantasan,” she said. “‘Yong kakulangan natin sa budget ay nagri-ripple siya sa amin as a manifestation na nawawalan kami ng units.”
Val Pura, a student from San Beda University, said the Church and the youth have joined forces to call for social justice.
“Hindi tahimik ang simbahan. Kami ay lumalaban din tulad ng iba,” he said.
Among those who joined the demonstrations were students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, National University, Arellano University, Far Eastern University, University of the East, National Teachers College, and San Beda University.
From Taft Avenue, some of the contingents included students from UP Manila, Adamson University, De La Salle University, Philippine Normal University and St. Scholastica’s College.
Also joining were students from schools in Intramuros, Manila, including Mapua University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. They joined the universities from Taft Avenue through Liwasang Bonifacio, marching toward Mendiola alongside other groups.
These schools conducted simultaneous walkouts before converging at Mendiola for the central protest program.
Numerous demonstrations had been held as part of the calls to denounce massive corruption, such as the Sept. 21 protests in Luneta and EDSA, and the “Thomasian Walkout against Corruption” in UST on Sept. 29. Czeantal Naomi P. Delos Santos with reports from Alexandra S. Demaisip, Amanda Luella A. Rivera, Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos, Ella Mae A. Sison, Amador Denzel P. Teston and Justin Jacob S. Urag
