Camille Naredo

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

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. Protesters also demanded a higher education budget amid massive cuts and stalled infrastructure under the Marcos Jr. administration.
The group cited the ₱21-billion deficit faced by state universities, pointing to unfinished facilities such as the College of Arts and Letters Faculty Center, Main Library, Abelardo Hall, and the Student Union Building as evidence of systemic neglect. Protest leaders stressed that underfunding threatens access to quality education and worsens conditions for thousands of students nationwide.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

ANTI CORRUTPION PROTEST02

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175810353350920250912-up-anti-corruption-walkout-MT28.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="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"/>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</div>MANILA — As transport group Manibela kicks off its three-day transport strike along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as a sign of protest against corruption, by Sunday, the public can expect free rides from their members.Manibela Chairperson Mar Valbuena, in a press conference of youth groups and civil societies, said they have had enough of the widespread corruption that has affected their members and many other Filipinos.“P192 sa fuel tax pa lang, value added tax, excise tax ang inaambag ng bawat tsuper na pinangka-casino lang ng mga pulitikong contractor at contractor na pulitiko. Panagutin, ikulong ang mga mandarambong sa bayan,” he said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/manibela-kicks-off-3-day-transport-strike-over-corruption-unmet-gov-t-promises-0926">READ: Manibela kicks off 3-day transport strike over corruption, &#x27;unmet&#x27; gov&#x27;t promises</a></div>“Ngayon may transport strike pero sa Linggo ang sakay libre papuntang Luneta gamit ang aming mga jeepney upang wakasan, labanan ang korapsyon.”Manibela is just among the many people’s organizations and movements which will demand accountability from government officials and other individuals involved in anomalous transactions and plunderers of government coffers.Atty. Luke Espiritu of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino described corruption in the country as systemic which necessitates purging.“Sistema ang problema. Lahat dapat panagutin na nagpapagulong ng ganiyang sistema na nagbe-breed ng kawatan sa gobyerno.”Following the investigations of the country’s flood control projects, leaders of various youth groups also expressed their anger and said they will not back down and continue to call for the accountability of those responsible for the billions of pesos spent on substandard if not completely missing projects.“Ang Kabataan ang solusyon. Hindi puro imbestigasyon,” says Nathan Villanueva, Secretary General of Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon.They said the youth is growing not just angry but tired of what the country and its people are going through because of the greed and love for money of those who are supposed to be helping in lifting its people up.Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan also called on officials to not underestimate the youth, how they think and what they are capable of.“Hindi kami mangmang! Hindi kami gumagasta ng libo-libo sa pag-aaral taon-taon para lang sabihin niyo na hindi namin alam kung ano ang tunay na pananagutan,” says Milo Basuel.<div> </div><div>NO POLITICAL COLOR</div>Hundreds, if not thousands, are expected to join protests in Manila and the People Power Monument in Quezon City.Civil society groups and leaders say the movement is a call for only one thing — to decry corruption and call for accountability from the highest to the lowest echelons of government.Because of the expected high volume and foot traffic in protest venues, they admit that it is possible for some groups with a different agenda may join the gathering.Former Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño said the protest is a movement that will hold people to account, regardless of their position or political color and gave a stern warning to those who will use the event to push for a different agenda.“Yung mga DDS o pro-BBM, wag na kayo mag aksaya ng panahon. Mapapahiya kayo doon. Ang pupunta sa Luneta, walang sasantuhin. Basta korap, mananagot sa Luneta. Ang pagkilos na ito ay hindi para sa kahit sinong politiko. Ito’y para sa sambayanang Pilipino,&quot; he said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/afp-sept-21-red-alert-status-about-readiness-not-deployment-1849">AFP: Sept. 21 ‘red alert’ status about readiness, not deployment</a></div><div> </div><div>ALL SYSTEMS GO</div>Organizers of the protest said final coordination with the Philippine National Police has yet to take place.Despite this, with or without a coordination meeting, it’s “all systems go”, according to David San Juan of TAMA NA.He added that the PNP’s role will be to remain on the sidelines and apprehend only those who will be threats to safety and those pushing for causes outside the scope of their calls.“Basta &#x27;wag lang nilang harangan yung mga taong magmamartsa. Pwedeng gawin nila kung sakali, aawat kapag may bitbit na “bring him home” sila ang taga-awat dun. Damputin nila yan kasi hindi yan bahagi ng pitong panawagan ng taumbayan,” he said.Despite the prevailing weather system, they said the program will continue, rain or shine.San Juan also laid out the rough movement for the September 21 rally:8am: Assembly of students and faculty of some schools along along TM Kalaw9am: March to Luneta, Manila9am-1pm: Program in Manila2pm: Proceed to People Power MonumentSan Juan urged organizers of the afternoon protests at the People Power Monument to also be present during the morning program in Luneta.

As transport group Manibela kicks off its three-day transport strike along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as a sign of protest against corruption, by Sunday, the public can expect free rides from their members.

As transport group Manibela kicks off its three-day transport strike along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as a sign of protest against corruption, by Sunday, the public can expect free rides from their members.

Some jeepneys to give free rides during September 21 protests

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Some jeepneys to give free rides during September 21 protests

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 17, 2025 06:09 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 17, 2025 07:32 PM PHT

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