Student groups from major universities have called on Filipinos to gather at Luneta on September 21 for a mass protest against corruption, coinciding with the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law.
Among the lead organizers are the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), composed of student organizations along Taft Avenue, and the Panatang Luntian Coalition, which brings together environmental advocates and youth councils.
University of the Philippines Student Regent Dexter Clemente denounced government corruption, saying: “We are absolutely and unapologetically outraged by the large-scale thievery and shameless nepotism that is happening. We also see through the hyper-partisanship of the warring factions in power, the same traditional politicians who share the common DNA of corruption for personal gain.”
Clemente, joined by other convenors, urged both young and old to march to Luneta: “Let us call out and condemn the politicians and contractors who wear different colors but worship the color of money, who steal our people’s money.”
De La Salle University professor David Michael San Juan, convenor of TAMA NA, said the movement is open to everyone who wants systemic change—except those still defending corrupt leaders. He pointed out that anomalies in flood control projects spanned both the Duterte and Marcos administrations, declaring: “Puno na ang salop. The corrupt must pay. Charge and jail the guilty!”
Niña Fegi of Panatang Luntian added that the youth movement is not tied to any political camp: “We are neither pro-Duterte nor pro-Marcos. We are the youth who cares for the environment. And protecting it means holding officials accountable for plundering our nation’s resources.”
The Luneta mobilization will follow a string of protests, including a march yesterday along EDSA where demonstrators called for accountability. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio stressed: “Taxpayers are seeing their money placed on the table and divided by politicians for themselves, so it’s only just that the public gets angry and charge all corrupt officials from Malacañang down to Congress.”
