DAVAO CITY, Philippines – In Duterte’s stronghold of Davao City, its youth and students see both President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte accountable on alleged corruption.
Some of these students interviewed by Davao Today said that while they do not plan to join the coming protest actions on November 30, they do support the calls raised by the groups for transparency and better governance.
Among the main issues raised in these ongoing protests is the flood control scandal where P197-billion in public funds were allegedly siphoned to private contractors, public works engineers and even some legislators. These projects are traced to have started during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.
An Ateneo student said Dabawenyos should go beyond the narrative of being loyal Duterte supporters who assume that this is just an ongoing feud between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, and that the accusations against VP Sara Duterte is a “political tactic” to frustrate her plans for 2028.
“Dabawenyos should start rethinking about this stand on the political issues kasi parang masyado lang ito naka-fix sa support nila sa mga Duterte (it seems it’s fixated towards supporting Dutertes). Yung corruption kasi as I understand it affects us all, kahit yung mga diehard na nagasupport like naga experience man din tayo ng baha (even diehard supporters experience flood) and other issues di ba? ” said Zhayha, a 22-year old student of Ateneo de Davao University.
Students urged residents to research corruption issues more deeply, noting that they extend “beyond the Marcos-Duterte break-up.”
“For me, it goes beyond the Marcos and Duterte na awayan because clearly both of them (are) involved in the corruption issue and should be accountable for that. Siguro sa mga supporters ng both camps, ang need talaga is to see beyond the Marcos–Duterte feud kasi masyado nang marami ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas (because there’s so many things happening to the Philippines). It’s giving us walang pakialam (like they don’t care),” said John, 19, a UP Mindanao student.
Mark, a 19-year old engineering major from Ateneo said Dabawenyos should be concerned on the ongoing investigation on flood control.
“I feel like Dabawenyos should really be involved in the fight against corruption because, like me, kami kasi ang magmamana ng anong (because we will live through whatever) result ng this corrupt na government in the future, and if we continue to oppose joining this call para na rin nating sinabi na wala tayong pakialam sa future natin (it’s like saying we have nothing to say about our future),” said he said.
Kryz Gomez, an education major from the University of Mindanao, said she and her friends agree that corruption affects all sectors, particularly education, where high tuition and unmet basic needs force many youths to drop out. They said there is a need to hold corrupt officials accountable and recover stolen funds.
“Not for the hype, dapat man talaga may managot sa (they should be held accountable for)corruption sa government because we deserve to know and deserve din nila makulong (to be in jail),” said Kryz.
The November 30 protest is the second nationally-coordinated action by various groups following the huge rallies last September 21.
Progressive groups and students are expected again to hold their protest action similar to their event last September 21, as the public calls for accountability and prosecution of officials involved in the flood-control scandal. This was heightened by the recent floods in Visayas and Luzon brought by two strong typhoons last October.
Student groups had held protest actions earlier as a build-up to entice Dabawenyos to support the call to fight corruption, including the International Students’ Day rally last November 17 led by Kabataan Party-list, and last Monday’s protest action by Ankabayan against the city’s planned phaseout of jeepneys.
Kilusang Mayo Uno held its own rally also on November 17, while members of ACT Teachers Partylist Davao led the “Black Friday” protest last November 22, where they slam corruption that took away public funds for the education sector.(davaotoday.com)
