Jamaine Punzalan

Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

ANTI CORRUTPION PROTEST02

Raphael Bosano

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175765736342920250912-up-anti-corruption-walkout-MT40.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Students of the University of the Philippines on Friday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/up-diliman-students-to-launch-black-friday-protest-vs-gov-t-corruption-2318">expressed </a>their “collective agitation” over the widespread corruption in government projects, particularly those concerning flood control.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/a-timeline-of-the-philippine-flood-control-scandal-0600">A timeline of the Philippine flood control scandal</a></div><p>Estimates from the University Student Council say the protest drew a crowd of 2,000 state scholars from various UP colleges.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1966327364046172513&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-12T06%3A26%3A47.495342%3Ad7793c58-95ed-4284-9b57-1f58770237f6%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=fb783e3c75bb1655625a3d24b1f0d039b896c5cf&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1966327364046172513"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Joaquin Buenaflor, UPD-USC’s chairperson said their community’s disgust over recent revelation in investigations prompted them to organize and mobilize the movement in just three days.</p><p>“Galit na galit po ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan sa mga korap, sa mga nagpapabaya sa kanilang tungkulin. Ang nagte-take ng burden ng ganitong korapsyon ay yung taumbayan. Lunod ang taumbayan sa baha,” he said.</p><p>The corruption, he added, hit even closer to home after students found out that one of their buildings—a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project—remained incomplete.</p><p>“Hindi po ligtas ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan sa korapsyon. Sa Senate lumabas po na yung CAL Faculty Center ay kaya pala hindi naitatayo mahigit walong taon na dahil isa siya sa proyekto under DPWH. Sila Discaya po ang contractor nito,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/marcos-announces-creation-of-independent-body-on-flood-control-probe-1412">Marcos forms 3-member independent body to probe flood control, other infra anomalies in past decade</a></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1966369838768730513&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-12T06%3A26%3A47.495342%3Ad7793c58-95ed-4284-9b57-1f58770237f6%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=fb783e3c75bb1655625a3d24b1f0d039b896c5cf&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1966369838768730513"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Aside from the issue on flood control, students expressed their outrage on government officials allegedly linked to anomalies causing not just horrendous flooding but also poor social services like education and health.</p><p>“Definitely, lunod sa katiwalian habang nananatili ang control ng bureaucrat at capitalist sa ating pamahalaan. Habang nananatili ang control ng mga political dynasty, mananatiling baon o lunod sa korapsyon ang bansang Pilipinas.” Buenaflor said.</p><p>Aside from UP, protests in other institutions have also taken place with more planned in the coming days. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/wrap-anger-over-ghost-flood-control-projects-overflows-onto-the-streets-2222">WRAP: Anger over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects overflows onto the streets</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROTESTS &#x27;PEACEFUL&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The anti-corruption demonstrations have been “peaceful,” the Philippine National Police said.</p><p>PNP Public Information Officer Chief BGen. Randulf Tuaño said no untoward incidents happened during rallies since Thursday.</p><p>“So far, peaceful naman po katulad ng inaasahan natin ang mga nagaganap kilos-protesta magmula po kahapon hanggang ngayong umaga ay payapa naman po ang mga namo-monitor natin na rally po,” he said in an interview with state-run media PTV. </p><p>He said police would enforce maximum tolerance.</p><p>“Ang kapulisan po ay magiging present sa lahat ng lugar na may kilos-protesta, at magiging mapagpasensya po at i-employ maximum tolerance at respetuhin natin ang sentimyento ng ating mga kababayan,” Tuaño added.</p><p>Up to 2,500 police officers were deployed as reactionary standby support force aside from the 950 police members deployed in the rally locations.</p><p>Tuaño vowed that the violence similar to deadly protests in Indonesia and Nepal would not occur during the demonstrations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/9/10/slideshow-nepal-army-bids-to-restore-order-after-deadly-protests-oust-pm-1711">SLIDESHOW: Nepal army bids to restore order after deadly protests oust PM</a></div><p>“Nanggaling na rin po sa ating mahal na SILG Jonvic Remulla na hindi po kultura ng Pilipino ang mga bagay na nangyari po sa Indonesia at Nepal. Ginagarantiyahan po ng Philippine National Police ang atin pong mga kababayan ay ise-secure po ng PNP ang lahat ng mga raliyista,” he said.</p><p>“Sapagkat nirerespeto po ng Philippine National Police ang freedom of expression lalo na kung ito ay authorized at peaceful assembly,” Tuaño added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/9/10/gen-z-movement-nepal-protesters-set-parliament-ablaze-as-pm-quits-1000">Gen Z movement: Nepal protesters set parliament ablaze as PM quits</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DhBtgAQ1HzM?si=ph3jDZykaBB7GLtt" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Students of the University of the Philippines expressed their “collective agitation” over the widespread corruption in government projects, particularly those concerning flood control.</p>

Students of the University of the Philippines expressed their “collective agitation” over the widespread corruption in government projects, particularly those concerning flood control.

UP students rage against government corruption

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UP students rage against government corruption

Raphael Bosano,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News,

Published September 12, 2025 02:15 PM PHT

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Updated September 12, 2025 06:26 PM PHT

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Flood control projects

protest

University of the Philippines

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