Students urge public to ‘flood Luneta’ on Sept. 21 vs. corruption

Abdiel Franz Bernales

Different groups, especially the students in the biggest universities in the Philippines, are calling on the public to “flood Luneta” to march against rampant corruption in the government on
September 21, which is an act of “collective agitation” and reflects the EDSA rally.

Clad in black, teachers, along with students and advocates, walked out to protest government corruption and injustice, while hundreds of protesters marched along EDSA on September 13, starting at the EDSA Shrine and reaching the People Power Monument by 10 a.m.

Leading the charge are the 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.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio informed reporters that people are looking for an outlet to express their outrage as they demand change and accountability.

“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 charges all corrupt officials from Malacañang down to Congress,” he said.

Further, the University of the Philippines Student Regent Dexter Clemente, one of the leaders of the walk-out protest of UP students on September 12, highlights a call to action against systemic corruption and self-serving political behavior.

“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 corrupt must pay. Charge and jail the guilty!” he stated.

For her part, Niña Fegi of Panatang Luntian encourages the youth and advocates for taking action for environmental protection by holding officials accountable for resource exploitation.

“We urge the youth and fellow advocates to join the cause. We are neither pro-Duterte nor pro-Marcos; we are the youth who care 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, ” she emphasized.

The 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.