Progressive groups, led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), mobilized hundreds of thousands of protesters in Luneta on Sunday, September 21 in what has been deemed as Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon na Laban sa Kurapsyon protest.
The mobilization sought to hold government officials, contractors, and politicians accountable over the corruption in the government, following the controversies surrounding the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) ghost flood control projects.
Braving the currents to fight corruption
A large sector of the attendees was significantly composed of youth from various walks of life. Youth leader Ruben Gabas, the convener of youth alliance Alyansa ng Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon (AKSYON), said that the participation of the youth in the protests prove that they would not stand idly as corruption remains deep-seated in the current system.
“Ang bilyong pondong ninanakaw ng mga pulitiko ay sapat na sana para may ospital na hindi ka na pipila maghapon para lang ma-checkup, para may guro na hindi na kailangang bumili ng chalk at papel mula sa sariling bulsa, para may sapat na sahod ang mga manggagawa na hindi na kailangan mangutang bago dumating ang sweldo. Walang Pilipino ang dapat nakakaranas ng ganitong paghihirap–lalo na’t mayaman ang Pilipinas sa agrikultura at likas-yaman. Pero dahil inuuna ang bulsa ng iilan kaysa sa kapakanan ng nakararami, patuloy tayong lumulubog sa utang, at patuloy ding tumataas ang presyo ng bigas, gulay, pamasahe, at serbisyo,” said AKSYON in a statement.
[“The billions of public funds plundered by politicians should have been enough for accessible healthcare, so you do not have to wait for long hours just to get a check up; it should have been enough to provide teaching allowance for teachers so they do not have to buy chalk and papers out of their own pockets; it should have been enough to guarantee a livable wage for workers so they do not have to secure loans just to get by. No Filipino should endure this kind of suffering, especially since our country is rich in natural resources. But since they prioritize lining their pockets more than think of the welfare of the majority, we are drowning in debt, while prices of basic necessities and services are on the rise,”]
AKSYON, which represents youth leaders from various universities in Taft and University Belt area, have since conducted protest actions and coordinated walkouts with school communities to air their dissent on the corruption scandals involving private contractors and government officials.
“Ang korapsyon ay hindi lamang isyu sa kongreso o palasyo. Nararamdaman natin ito araw-araw sa hapagkainan, sa classroom ng anak natin, sa pila sa ospital, at sa bulsa tuwing pamasahe o grocery. Kung hindi natin wawakasan ang ganitong sistema, hindi uusad ang bayan,” the group added.
[“Corruption is not just an issue [to be tackled] in Congress or the Palace. We feel it everyday at our dining tables, in the classroom of our children, in the long lines in public hospitals, in our own pockets when we commute or buy groceries. If we would not end this system, our country will never move forward,”]
Understanding the root of outrage
Following the Luneta protest, the contingent marched to Mendiola to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law declaration. However, tensions spiked between an unidentified group of protesters and the police, shortly after the progressive groups concluded their program and implemented their organized dispersal, resulting in an unrest that led to arrests of 216 people.
Progressive groups criticized the arrests, citing that the excessive display of force used by the police to deescalate the tensions resulted in more violence. They claimed that some of their members have been nabbed even if they haven’t been part of the altercation, and were merely bystanders leaving the area after the protest concluded.
“The September 21 nationwide and global protests against corruption and fascism stand as a resounding success, with over a hundred thousand people joining across the Philippines and abroad. These actions highlight the people’s collective demand for justice and accountability from those in power.
Yet instead of heeding the legitimate voices of the people, the state responded with violence and repression. On the very anniversary of Marcos Sr.’s martial law, the Philippine National Police unleashed martial law–style dispersals: arbitrary arrests, beatings, and denial of access to lawyers and families of those detained. More than 100 youth protesters were imprisoned, many simply for wearing casual clothes. We strongly condemn this police brutality and demand the immediate release of all those arrested,” said KARAPATAN NCR in its statement.
As of press time, the arrested individuals are still incarcerated in Manila Police District (MPD), with some of them still having been deprived of access to their families, paralegals, and lawyers.
“These incidents lay bare the rottenness of the system. While those in power plunder the nation’s wealth, the people are further pushed into poverty and subjected to state repression. The unrest and resistance that erupted along Recto and other protest centers reflect the people’s accumulated anger against corruption and tyranny,” the group added.
KARAPATAN NCR reiterated that what happened in the September 21 protests reflect the genuine struggle of the Filipino masses.
“We stand with the families of the detained, with human rights defenders, and with all communities calling for justice, freedom, and accountability.
Organize your rage. Together, let us fight for rights, justice, and genuine change,” the group ended.
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