MANILA, Philippines — Students and youth groups across Metro Manila marched in the streets anew yesterday as they sustained their demands to hold government officials accountable for corruption and for better social services particularly in the education sector.
Members of Akbayan party-list, Tindig Pilipinas and Youth Against Kurakot (YAK!) held a noise barrage at the corner of EDSA and Kamias Road in Quezon City, calling on passing motorists to honk their horns and wear white ribbons symbolizing “the people’s demand for truth, justice, and accountability.”
“Our demand is for government to be more eager in investigating, filing cases and jailing corrupt officials,” Akbayan party-list’s youth sector secretary general and YAK! lead convenor Khylla Meneses said.
She pointed out nothing has happened yet three months since President Marcos declared that corrupt public officials involved in anomalous flood control projects would be held liable.
She also demanded government officials to publicize their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) immediately, as well as enact legislation allowing public participation in processes such as bicameral budget conferences of Congress and the Freedom of Information.
In the afternoon, thousands of students from the University of the Philippines campuses in Diliman and Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, National University, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda University, University of the East, Adamson University, Technological University of the Philippines, De La Salle University and other schools walked out of their classes and marched to the streets as part of anti-corruption rallies.
“Last September, we witnessed victories from our collective actions against corruption, from the Takbo Laban sa Korapsyon to the Black Friday Walkout, which saw a historic turnout of over 5,000 UP Diliman students, alongside mass mobilizations in Luneta and Mendiola, and walkouts in various universities,” UP Diliman College of Science Student Council chairperson Sergio Manuel Biglaen said.
Despite these, Biglaen also lamented that culprits of the flood control corruption have yet to be punished.
Meanwhile, along with members of Kabataan party-list, Gabriela Women’s Party and Bahaghari, protesters trooped to Mendiola that was heavily barricaded with several layers of razor spikes and numerous anti-riot personnel of the Manila Police District (MPD) armed with shields.
The rallyists held a program using a flatbed truck as stage and carried banners calling for more programs for education, holding President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte accountable for corruption and justice for protesters detained and reportedly killed following the riots last Sept. 21.
The rally ended past 4 p.m., according to radio reports. — Bella Cariaso