Hundreds of students gathered at the University of the Philippines Diliman on Monday, November 17, 2025, transforming the iconic AS Steps at Palma Hall into a symbolic courtroom to put corrupt officials on trial. The event, timed with International Students' Day, saw youth organizations unite under the banner "Youth Against Kurakot" to protest what they described as a culture of impunity protecting powerful figures from justice.
Coalition of Youth Groups Demands Accountability
The massive gathering brought together diverse student organizations including Akbayan Youth, Liberal Youth, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, Kilos Ko Youth, Kaya Natin Youth, PM Kabataan, Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders, Bulakenyos for Good Governance, UP Alyansa, and UP Babaylan. The protest began at 2 p.m. with participants carrying placards and banners calling for an end to corruption in government.
Celebrity supporters amplified the message, with Akbayan Reform Bloc, Morobeats, PPop Group VXON, and Drag Race Superstar Maxie Anderson joining the action. Their participation helped draw broader public attention to the students' cause against systemic corruption.
Symbolic Tribunal Delivers People's Verdict
The protest creatively adopted the theme "The People's Court: Holding the Corrupt Accountable" and featured a dramatized Citizen's Arrest. Organizers convened the Korte ng Taumbayan (People's Court), where ordinary citizens took on the roles of judge and jury to deliver what they called the people's verdict: "Ikulong na 'yan!" (Lock them up now!).
During the symbolic proceedings, victims of corruption, concerned parents, and students shared powerful testimonies about how corruption had affected their communities. Speakers emphasized that corruption had robbed Filipinos not just of financial resources, but also of safety and dignity. The emotional accounts highlighted the real human cost of graft and corrupt practices in government projects.
Guilty Verdict in Flood Control Scandal
The protest reached its climax with the reading of a formal Guilty Verdict targeting officials implicated in the recent flood control scandal. Following the verdict, participants symbolically "served" arrest warrants to emphasize their demand for genuine accountability.
The Student Strike against Corruption represented a significant show of defiance from the youth sector, demonstrating their commitment to fighting graft and demanding transparency from public officials. The event successfully blended creative protest methods with serious political messaging, capturing the frustration of many Filipinos with ongoing corruption issues.
Organizers vowed to continue their campaign until concrete actions are taken against officials involved in corruption cases, particularly those affecting vital infrastructure projects like flood control systems that directly impact public safety.
