Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Youth groups launch 'ghost hunting' protest vs flood control corruption in Pasig City on Sept. 5, 2025. Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757047964573viber_image_2025-09-05_12-08-32-111.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Youth groups launch &#x27;ghost hunting&#x27; protest vs flood control corruption in Pasig City on Sept. 5, 2025. Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — Around 200 youth activists staged a noise barrage and protest outside the office of St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City on Friday morning to announce alleged corruption in government flood control projects.Members of Youth Against Kurakot, Akbayan Youth, and allied organizations beat drums and shouted chants of “Kadiring Kurakot! (The corrupt are disgusting)”Some protesters donned ghost costumes to symbolize what the ghost, or non-existent,  flood control projects funded by taxpayers and how corruption haunts the country.&quot;Ang sabi nating mga kabataan, this is where your taxes go. Minumulto ang pera ng taumbayan,&quot; Khylla Meneses, secretary-general of Akbayan Youth, said.(The youth say this is where your taxes go. Ghosts are taking the people&#x27;s money)The protest in front of the St. Gerrard firm&#x27;s office is the third in recent weeks. Environmental groups also picketed the office on Thursday, spray-painted slogans accusation of corruption and theft on the gate and pelted it with mud. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/protesters-hurl-mud-mark-magnanakaw-on-discaya-compound-in-pasig-1247">Protesters throw mud, write &#x27;magnanakaw&#x27; on Discaya compound in Pasig</a></div>The protests come as the executive and legislative branches of government investigate alleged corruption and budget insertions and after <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/31/some-turn-to-online-lifestyle-checks-amid-frustrations-over-flooding-2247">a social media campaign to shame the relatives of politicians and contractors</a> allegedly linked to faulty flood control projects. <div> </div><div>&#x27;SHAME ON YOU&#x27;</div>The activists said they are not just protesting big-time contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya but all corruption in government.&quot;Shame on you Discaya, shame on you to all public officials and politicians and contractors who use public funds to fund your luxurious lifestyle,&quot; she added.The group cited past scandals such as the Napoles pork barrel scam and the Pharmally deal, warning that the same patterns of corruption persist.&quot;Kami po ay sumisigaw, nagmamakaawa ng pananagutan. Hindi na pwedeng investigations lang dapat may managot. Kailangan ngayon may mapakulong, may mapanagot na mga public officials, mga pulitiko,&quot; she said.(We are calling, begging for accountability. Investigations are not enough. People should go to jail, public officials, politicians should be held liable)The groups vowed to continue their “ghost hunting field trips” by visiting other alleged substandard and unfinished flood control projects across the country.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757048350934viber_image_2025-09-05_12-08-30-831.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Protesters said they would take their &#x27;ghost hunting&#x27; campaign to politicians and contractors linked to alleged corruption. Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News</div>Police Col. Hendrix Mangaldan, chief of the Pasig police, said the demonstration was peaceful and that the groups had secured a permit from the city government.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/-let-s-not-resort-to-violence-vico-sotto-tells-protesters-at-discaya-property-1513">&#x27;Let&#x27;s not resort to violence,&#x27; Vico Sotto tells protesters at Discaya property</a></div>He added that &quot;a conservative&quot; number of less than 100 police officers was deployed about 300 meters from the area as part of normal visibility and routine monitoring.&quot;We keep on monitoring. We expect the worst, so kung may ganitong na situation, the PNP will always be ready to protect everyone,&quot; he added.Police Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said they are considering filing charges against activists from Thursday&#x27;s protest.He said they had no permit for the protest but that police practiced maximum tolerance.

"Ang sabi nating mga kabataan, this is where your taxes go. Minumulto ang pera ng taumbayan," Khylla Meneses, secretary-general of Akbayan Youth, said.

"Ang sabi nating mga kabataan, this is where your taxes go. Minumulto ang pera ng taumbayan," Khylla Meneses, secretary-general of Akbayan Youth, said.

Youth groups hold 'ghost hunting' protest vs flood control corruption

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Youth groups hold 'ghost hunting' protest vs flood control corruption

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 05, 2025 01:09 PM PHT

|

Updated September 05, 2025 02:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Akbayan Youth

Youth Against Kurakot

St. Gerrard Construction

Pacifico Discaya

Sarah Discaya

Pasig

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