Students from top universities to lead rally vs corruption

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September 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Students from the country’s biggest universities are calling on the public to “flood Luneta” on Sept. 21 to march against rampant corruption in the government.

Among the lead groups are Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), a network of organizations from schools around Taft Avenue, and the Panatang Luntian Coalition, a group of young environmentalists and various student councils.

University of the Philippines Student Regent Dexter Clemente, one of the leaders of the walk-out protest of UP students on Friday, said: “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.”

“We call on fellow young people and our elders to gather at Luneta on Sept. 21. 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,” Clemente said in a joint statement with other convenors of the protest.

De La Salle University Professor David Michael San Juan, convenor of TAMA NA, explained that “everyone who’s against corruption, who wants social services to be prioritized and to change the system, is welcome, except for fanatics who still support and defend corrupt politicians. Remember, the anomalies in the flood control projects happened both in the Duterte and Marcos administrations. Puno na ang salop. (The measuring basket is full). The corrupt must pay. Charge and jail the guilty!”

For her part, Niña Fegi of Panatang Luntian said: “We urge the youth and fellow advocates to join the cause. 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. Join forums, mobilizations and student-led actions. This is our time to speak up and unite for our future.”

EDSA rally

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters similarly marched along EDSA yesterday, starting at the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas Ave. and reaching the People Power Monument around 10 a.m.

Protesters held a program at the monument where they demanded justice amid the systemic corruption and urged punishment for those involved.

“People are looking for an outlet to express their outrage. Taxpayers’ money is being stolen by corrupt politicians and officials. We want change and accountability,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio told reporters.

“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,” he added.

Yesterday’s protest, coinciding with the birthday of President Marcos, comes a week before the major mobilization in Luneta on Sept. 21, which is the 53rd anniversary of the Martial Law declaration.

Another gathering, dubbed the “Trillion Peso March,” led by the Clergy for Good Governance, will take place at the People Power Monument on the same date.

Tinio said President Marcos must also be held liable for approving the budgets that were used for corruption.

Meanwhile, in his speech at yesterday’s rally, Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Francis Aquino Dee cited past corruption scandals involving prominent politicians, stressing the need to strengthen independent oversight bodies to prevent abuse.

One westbound lane of White Plains Ave. was temporarily closed due to the event, causing traffic slowdown leading to EDSA. At least 250 police officers were deployed to maintain peace and order. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Emmanuel Tupas, EJ Macababbad